The provisional estimate of Hong Kong’s population was 7,474,200 at end-2020, down 0.6% from 2019, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

There were 43,100 births and 49,800 deaths, resulting in a natural population decrease of 6,700 for the first time.

There was also a net outflow of 39,800 people, with an inflow of 10,100 one-way permit holders and a net outflow of 49,900 other Hong Kong residents.

The number of usual residents was 7,401,000, while that of mobile residents was 73,200.

The Government explained that largely due to the boundary control and quarantine measures in place in Hong Kong and other places around the world, as well as the severe interruption of international travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a substantial drop in the inflow of people, such as one-way permit holders, foreign domestic helpers and those coming to work or study in Hong Kong under various admission schemes, was seen in 2020.

Among others, the number of one-way permit holders who arrived in Hong Kong in 2020 showed a year-on-year decrease of 74%.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong residents who had left the city before the pandemic may have chosen to remain outside Hong Kong. Such a decrease might have contributed to the net outflow of Hong Kong residents.

The Government noted that a net movement, which includes the movement of Hong Kong residents into and out of the city for various purposes including work and study, is conceptually different from immigration and emigration.

It said being an international city, Hong Kong's population has always been mobile.

In the last five years from 2016 to 2020, net outflows of Hong Kong residents other than one-way permit holders were recorded in all years except 2018, the Government added.