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Population
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THE total estimated population at the end of 1977 was 4,566,900, comprising 2,337,600 males and 2,229,300 females. This represents an increase of 21 per cent on the 1967 population estimate of 3,760,600.
The average annual rate of increase over the 10-year period was two per cent, with the rate fluctuating year by year because of changes in migration flow. But the rate of natural increase dropped steadily over the period from 18.3 to 12.5 per thousand. This was the result of the birth rate declining from 23.7 per thousand in 1967 to 17.7 per thousand in 1977. The death rate remained stable at about five per thousand.
In the first half of the 10-year period, the decline in the birth rate was caused by a decrease in the number of married women in the prime child-bearing age groups and by women having fewer children; in the second half, it was mainly the result of fewer births. In recent years, later marriages also have contributed to this trend, along with improvements in education and job opportunities.
This is a favourable trend. But, reflecting the baby boom of the 1950s, it is estimated that the number of women in the fertile age group between 20 and 35 will increase substantially from 528,000 in 1977 to 782,700 by 1987. To counter an anticipated large increase in the number of births during this period, the government plans to make available to those who desire them a whole range of family planning services. The intention is to develop existing services and to increase publicity and research.
Hong Kong, with a land area of only 1,049 square kilometres, is one of the most densely-populated places in the world. The overall density per square kilometre at the end of 1977 was 4,354. But this figure includes a wide variety of densities by in- dividual areas. According to the 1976 by-census, the density for the metropolitan areas of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Kowloon and Tsuen Wan was 25,400; but for the New Territories it was 554 per square kilometre. These area densities will, of course, change with the development of more new towns in the New Territories notably at Tsuen Wan/Kwai Chung, Sha Tin and Tuen Mun. They are being developed to alleviate high densities in the urban areas and to cope with the prospect of providing an increasing population with better housing, education and other social services.
The population of Hong Kong is still very young - in 1977 about 41 per cent was below the age of 20. But the median age of the population was 24.2, compared with 20.4 10 years ago. The proportions between the different sections of the population also have changed considerably. In 1967, 40 per cent of the population was under 15; now it is 29.1 per cent. The relative figure for those aged 65 and over has risen from 3.9 per cent to 5.7 per cent. This shows that there is a greater potentially-productive
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