Hong Kong population hits 7.51 mn, despite record-low births

Hong Kong's population has hit 7.51 million by the end of 2025, up 10,000 year on year.

The government says the population growth was pushed by various measures on talent attraction and labour importation.

As of the end of last year, Hong Kong's population has grown to 7.51 million.

The number represents a 0.1 percent increase, or about 10,000 more people compared to 2024.

Births plunged to a record low of 31,100 last year -- a drop of about 5,000.

With 50,000 deaths recorded over the same period, the city saw a natural decrease of 18,900 people.

The population growth is mainly driven by new arrivals. This includes 25,000 people moving to Hong Kong on One-way Permits, while other categories saw a net inflow of about 4,000.

A government spokesperson noted that the overall increase is because of various talent and labour schemes, which drew people from across the globe, and offset the impact of the natural population decline.

The government's 20,000 dollars newborn baby bonus is about to end by the end of this year.

While the city continues to face a shrinking birth rate, lawmaker Nixie Lam believes simply handing out cash is not enough.

"A one-off payment -- whether its twenty, forty or even eighty thousand dollars is not a long-term solution. You can't boost birth rate with just one measure.

The city needs a comprehensive plan to understand why young people are hesitating to start families," said Lam.

She suggested increasing child tax allowances and expanding childcare services to encourage citizens to have children.