Hong Kong's Population Reaches Nearly 7.52 Million Amidst Natural Decrease and Inflow of Residents

Mid-year population for 2026

According to the statistics released by the Census and Statistics Department today (August 18), the provisional estimate of the Hong Kong population was 7 518 300 at mid-2026, representing an increase of 19 400 or 0.3% from 7 498 900 at mid-2025.

Hong Kong residents, Photo source: reference image

A net inflow of 39 800 Hong Kong residents (i.e. inflow more than outflow) was recorded during the period from mid-2025 to mid-2026. Over the same period, a natural decrease (i.e. deaths surpassing births) of 20 400 was recorded, with 29 700 births and 50 100 deaths.

Among the total population at mid-2026, 7 252 800 were Usual Residents and 265 500 were Mobile Residents. The revised figure for the year-end population for 2025 was 7 508 700. The number of Usual Residents was revised to 7 242 100 and the number of Mobile Residents to 266 600. The rate of change in population from end-2024 to end-2025 was also revised to +0.1%.

Hong Kong residents, Photo source: reference image

Commentary

A government spokesperson said that various measures for talent attraction and labour importation continued to bring people from places around the world to Hong Kong, offsetting the impact of natural population decrease and resulting in an increase in population in mid-2026 as compared with mid-2025.

Hong Kong residents, Photo source: reference image

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 mid-2026 is released today, the corresponding revised estimate will be released in February 2027.

Hong Kong, Photo source: reference image

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

An incoming Vietnamese male passenger was sentenced to three months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 by the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (August 19) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted an incoming Vietnamese male passenger, aged 35, at Hong Kong International Airport yesterday (August 18) and seized 6 200 duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $31,000 and a duty potential of about $20,500, from his 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.

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 duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases