Hong Kong Population to Hit 8.72 Million in 30 Years

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 ◆ Hong Kong Population to Hit 8.72 Million in 30 Years

The Hong Kong population is expected to reach 8.72 million in the coming 30 years with a continuous aging trend, predicted the Census and Statistics Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region recently.

Following the release of the results of the 2001 population census, a new set of population projections, covering the coming 30 years, has been prepared.

In the latest set of projections, the Hong Kong population is projected to increase at an average annual rate of 0.9 percent, from 6.72 million in mid-2001 to 8.72 million in mid-2031.

Migration would be the main source of growth in the population, accounting for 93 percent of the population growth during 2002-2031. Natural increase would account for 7 percent during the same period.

Among the population, the number of usual residents is projected to increase from 6.54 million in mid-2001 to 8.32 in mid-2031. As for mobile residents, the number is projected to increase from 182,000 in mid-2001 to 405,000 in mid-2031.

The population is projected to follow a continuous aging trend. In 2001, 16 percent of the population were aged under 15. This is projected to decrease to 12 percent in 2031.

On the other hand, the proportion of those aged 65 and over is projected to rise markedly, from 11 percent in 2001 to 24 percent in 2031.

The aging population trend will also be revealed by the increasing median age of the population, from 37 in 2001 to 46 in 2031.