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POPULATION AND IMMIGRATION
At the end of 1990, there were 5 859 100 people in Hong Kong, comprising 2 984 700 males and 2 874 400 females. Compared with the population 10 years ago, this represents an increase of 13.9 per cent. The population at the end of 1980 was estimated to be 5 145 100.
The growth rate of the population averaged 1.3 per cent over the 10-year period, with fluctuations from year to year, mainly because of changes in migration flows. In 1980, reflecting a large inflow of legal and illegal immigrants from China, the average annual growth rate of the population was 2.4 per cent. For the period 1981-90, the average annual growth rate declined to 1.3 per cent, largely because of a reduction in the inflow of im- migrants following certain revisions in the immigration policy in 1980 and 1982.
The rate of natural increase in the population dropped steadily over the 10-year period from 12 to seven per 1 000. This was the result of a declining birth rate, from 17 per 1 000 in 1980 to 12 per 1 000 in 1990, and a stable death rate, at about five per 1.000.
With its land area of only 1 075 square kilometres, and 5 859 100 people, Hong Kong is one of the most densely-populated places in the world. The overall population density per square kilometre was 5 430 in 1990. The figure conceals wide variations between dif- ferent areas in the territory. The density in the metropolitan areas of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Kowloon and Tsuen Wan was 20 300 people per square kilometre, while that in the New Territories (other than Tsuen Wan) was 1 920 per square kilometre. As a result of the continuing development of the new towns, designed to alleviate the high population density in the urban areas and to provide better housing and an improved living environment to more people, the population in the New Territories (other than Tsuen Wan) has almost tripled over the past decade.
The age distribution of the population has changed considerably in the last 10 years. In 1980, 25.5 per cent of the population were under 15; in 1990 the figure was 21.5 per cent. The proportion of people aged 65 and above has risen from 6.4 per cent to 8.8 per cent. Concurrent with these changes, the proportion of people of working age (those between 15 and 64) has increased from 68.1 per cent to 69.7 per cent. The dependency ratio - the ratio of the young and the aged to people in the 15 to 64 age group – has dropped from 470 per 1 000 in 1980 to 434 per 1 000 in 1990.
The ratio of males to females in the population has also changed. In 1980, there were 1 084 males to every 1 000 females; in 1990 the figure was 1 038.
More statistics are given at Appendix 28.
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