Hong Kong's population grows to 7.51 million by end-2025, driven by talent attraction measures.

Year-end Population for 2025

According to the statistics released by the Census and Statistics Department today (February 12), the provisional estimate of the Hong Kong population was 7 510 800 at end-2025, representing an increase of 10 200 or 0.1% from 7 500 600 at end-2024.

A net inflow of 29 100 Hong Kong residents (i.e. inflow more than outflow) was recorded during the period from end-2024 to end-2025. Over the same period, a natural decrease (i.e. deaths surpassing births) of 18 900 was recorded, with 31 100 births and 50 000 deaths.

Among the total population at end-2025, 7 242 400 were Usual Residents and 268 400 were Mobile Residents. The revised figure for the mid-year population for 2025 was 7 498 900. The number of Usual Residents was revised to 7 232 900 and the number of Mobile Residents to 266 000. The rate of change in population from mid-2024 to mid-2025 was also revised to -0.3%.

Table 1 presents estimated total population as at end-2025, while Table 2 presents population figures from mid-2014 to end-2025.

Commentary

A government spokesperson said that the overall population in end-2025 increased as compared to end-2024, benefiting from various measures on talent attraction and labour importation that brought people into Hong Kong from other places around the world to offset the impact of natural population decrease.

Further information

"Usual Residents" refer to two categories of people: (1) Hong Kong Permanent Residents who have stayed in Hong Kong for at least three months during the six months before or for at least three months during the six months after the reference time-point, regardless of whether they are in Hong Kong or not at the reference time-point; and (2) Hong Kong Non-permanent Residents who are in Hong Kong at the reference time-point.

For those Hong Kong Permanent Residents who are not "Usual Residents", they are classified as "Mobile Residents" if they have stayed in Hong Kong for at least one month but less than three months during the six months before or for at least one month but less than three months during the six months after the reference time-point, regardless of whether they are in Hong Kong or not at the reference time-point.

Under the current practice, the latest population estimate is released on a provisional basis in each round. The revised estimate will be released six months later. In other words, while the provisional population estimate for end-2025 is released today, the corresponding revised estimate will be released in August 2026.

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing alternative smoking products and importing duty-not-paid cigarettes

An incoming female passenger was sentenced to six months' imprisonment and fined $500 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (February 12) for importing alternative smoking products, importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Import and Export Ordinance (IEO) and the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted an incoming female passenger, aged 31, at Hong Kong International Airport on December 17, 2025, and seized about 20 000 alternative smoking products and about 17 800 duty-not-paid cigarettes, with a total estimated market value of about $134,100 and a duty potential of about $58,800, from her personal baggage. The passenger was subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.

Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Under the IEO, any person who imports an alternative smoking product into Hong Kong commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for importing alternative smoking products and importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases