The provisional estimate of the Hong Kong population was 7,061,200 in mid-year, representing an increase of 57,500 or 0.8% over last year, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

Obtained by subtracting the number of deaths - 41,200 -  from the 84,700 births, the natural increase of the population from mid-2009 to mid-2010 amounted to 43,500.

The overall population increase of 57,500 comprised a natural increase of 43,500 and an inflow less outflow of 14,000 residents.

The number of births, which comprised those born to Hong Kong residents and non-Hong Kong residents, from mid-2009 to mid-2010 was 84,700 - 147% of the overall population increase. As for the inflow of one-way permit holders in the same period, the ratio of the number - at 48,800 - to the overall population increase was 85%.

The ratio of the number of deaths - at 41,200 - to the overall population increase was 72%. Excluding the arrival of one-way permit holders, there was a net outflow of 34,700 people, bearing a ratio of 60% to the overall population increase.

Among the total population, 6,856,900 were usual residents and 204,300 were mobile residents.