From the census report, the population estimate was 7,291,600 in mid-2022, representing a decrease of 1.6 percent over the same period last year.

Among the population figures, 7,181,900 were usual residents, and 109,700 were mobile residents.
The figure for the year-end population for 2021 was 7,401,500, with the number of usual residents logged at 7,289,600 and mobile residents at 111,900.

The rate of change in population from end-2020 to end-2021 marked -0.3 percent.

In the report on the statistics, it is said that the decrease in the population comprised a natural decrease and a net outflow.

The natural decrease was recorded as 26,500 persons, with 35,100 births and 61,600 deaths from mid-2021 to mid-2022.

While the net outflow of 95,000 persons was contributed with an inflow of 18,300 One-way Permit holders and a net outflow of 113,200 Hong Kong residents.

Over the past five years, the number of births declined continually from 59,500 between mid-2016 and mid-2017 to 35,100 between mid-2021 and mid-2022.

“Hong Kong’s fertility rate is persistently among the lowest in Asian economies,” the report noted.

“The plunge in births in the recent two years might also be attributable to the outbreak of Covid-19 since early 2020,” the government spokesperson said, “on the other hand, the number of deaths edged up gradually from 45,400 to 61,600 over the past five years in tandem with the aging trend of the population.”

At the same time, some 14,700 Hongkongers applied for Certificates of No Criminal Conviction for emigration in 2021, according to the Security Bureau.

The figure sees a 40 percent increase compared to 2020, with 10,500 cases recorded, marking the highest record in 22 years.

The top-three destinations for residents to pack bags for were reported to be Australia, Canada, and Portugal.