Hong Kong population up 0.1% to over 7.53 million in 2024 due to net inflow of residents
Hong Kong Free Press
Hong Kong’s population has grown at a slightly slower pace, up around 0.1 per cent to more than 7.53 million at the end of 2024.
On Tuesday, the Census and Statistics Department released its latest population figures, which saw the Hong Kong population rise to 7,534,200 at the end of last year, from 7,527,900 at the end of 2023.
Hong Kong’s year-end population grew by 0.4 per cent at the end of 2023, according to provisional government figures released in February last year.
The city recorded 36,700 babies born in 2024 – an increase of around 11 per cent compared with the previous year – but the births were surpassed by 51,400 deaths.
The authorities saw a net inflow of 21,000 residents in 2024, thanks to 40,000 people who arrived with one-way permits – a document issued to mainland Chinese with family ties in Hong Kong allowing them to settle in Hong Kong – and 18,900 people who left the city.
The government pointed out that the city’s population had increased for the third consecutive year, and like last year, mainly attributed the growth to the net inflow of residents.
“Continuing to benefit from various measures on talent attraction and labour importation, many people moved to Hong Kong from the Mainland and other places around the world throughout 2024,” a government spokesperson said.
Hong Kong introduced the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) in December 2022, aimed at attracting high earners after professionals left the city following the imposition of a national security law and years of strict Covid-19 curbs. The policy has since been expanded, while a retired investment visa scheme was revived.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun said last December that, taking all talent admission schemes into consideration, around 175,000 people had arrived in Hong Kong since late 2022.
Hong Kong saw a large population outflow during the Covid-19 pandemic and after Beijing imposed a national security law in 2020 to quell the protests and unrest in the previous year.
At the end of 2019, Hong Kong had a population of 7.52 million. The figure dropped to 7.35 million in June 2022 before bouncing back. The city had a population of around 7.53 million as of June 2024.
Support HKFP | Policies & Ethics | Error/typo? | Contact Us | Newsletter | Transparency & Annual Report | Apps
Help safeguard press freedom & keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team
.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles article .entry-title {
font-size: 1.2em;
}
.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles .entry-meta {
display: flex;
flex-wrap: wrap;
align-items: center;
margin-top: 0.5em;
}
.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles article .entry-meta {
font-size: 0.8em;
}
.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles article .avatar {
height: 25px;
width: 25px;
}
.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles .post-thumbnail{
margin: 0;
margin-bottom: 0.25em;
}
.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles .post-thumbnail img {
height: auto;
width: 100%;
}
.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles .post-thumbnail figcaption {
margin-bottom: 0.5em;
}
.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles p {
margin: 0.5em 0;
}
HKFP has an impartial stance, transparent funding, and balanced coverage guided by an Ethics Code and Corrections Policy.
Support press freedom & help us surpass 1,000 monthly Patrons: 100% independent, governed by an ethics code & not-for-profit.