ENG-1986 — Page 349

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Population

THE total population at the end of 1986 was 5 588 000, comprising 2 875 500 males and 2 712 500 females. This represents an increase of 23 per cent on the 1976 population estimate of 4 551 000.

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The average annual rate of increase over the 10-year period was 2.1 per cent, with the rate fluctuating from year to year because of changes in migration flows. During the years 1978-80, in particular, there was a large inflow of immigrants from China

both legal and illegal - and an influx of boat refugees from Vietnam. The average annual growth rate increased from 1.4 per cent over the period 1976-7 to 3.6 per cent over the period 1978–80. The average annual growth rate for the period 1981-6 was 1.4 per cent, due to a reduction in the inflow of immigrants as a result of revisions in immigration policy at the end of the years 1980 and 1982.

Meanwhile, the rate of natural increase dropped steadily over the period from 12 to eight per thousand. This was the result of the birth rate declining from 17 per thousand in 1976 to 13 per thousand in 1986, and the death rate remaining stable at about five per thousand.

Hong Kong, with a land area of only 1 070 square kilometres, is one of the most densely populated places in the world. The overall density per square kilometre at the end of 1986 was 5192. But this figure conceals wide variations in density between different areas. According to the 1986 By-census, the density for the metropolitan areas of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Kowloon and Tsuen Wan was 20 811 people per square kilometre, but for the New Territories it was 1 449 per square kilometre. This situation will, of course, change with the continuation of the new town development programme in the New Territories, designed to alleviate the high density in the urban areas and to help provide an increasing population with better housing and an improved living environment.

The age distribution of the population of Hong Kong has changed considerably during the 10-year period. In 1976, 30.2 per cent of the population was under 15; in 1986 the figure was 23.1 per cent. The proportion of those aged 65 and above has risen from 5.4 per cent to 7.7 per cent. As a result of these changes, the proportion of the population of working age (those aged between 15 and 64) has increased from 64.4 per cent to 69.2 per cent, indicating that there is a greater potentially productive population available. The dependency ratio the ratio of the young and the aged to those in the 15 to 64 age group - has dropped from 554

per thousand in 1976 to 444 per thousand in 1986.

The sex ratio of the population has also changed. The ratio showed an increase over the 10-year period, falling back from a peak in 1981. In 1976, the ratio was 1 052 males to every 1 000 females; in 1986 the figure was 1 060. The increase in the proportion of males over females during this period can largely be explained by the substantial inflow of immigrants, who were predominantly male.