ENG-2009 — Page 491

Chapter 20

Population and Immigration

Hong Kong is an enticing place. This is reflected in the continuously large number of visitors and businessmen coming to the city for short and long stays. In 2009, the Immigration Department handled some 223 million inbound and outbound movements. The strong draw is due largely to the city's world-class tourism facilities, a liberal visa policy, excellent infrastructure, open business environment and strategic location in China and Southeast Asia.

The provisional figure for the population of Hong Kong at the end of 2009 was 7 026 400, or 0.5 per cent up on the previous year. This was due to 41 900 more births than deaths and a net outflow of 4 400 residents. Over the period 2004- 2009, the average annual growth rate of the population was 0.7 per cent.

The birth rate' in 2009 was estimated at 12 per 1 000, higher than the 11 per 1 000 in 2008. This was attributable to an increase in the number of children born in Hong Kong to Mainland women during the year. There was little change in the death rate2 which was about five to six per 1 000.

The under-15 age group shrank from 15 per cent in mid-2004 to 12 per cent in mid-2009, while the 65 and over age group grew from 12 per cent in mid-2004 to 13 per cent in mid-2009. Correspondingly, the population's median age rose from 38.6 years to 40.7 years during the same period.

The overall dependency ratio of people aged under 15 and those aged 65 and over, to the working age group of people aged between 15 and 64, dropped from 368 per 1 000 in mid-2004 to 337 per 1 000 in mid-2009. This was attributable to a decline in the number of children under 15, which more than offset an increase in the number of old people aged 65 and over in the same period.

1 The birth rate refers to the number of known live births occurring in a calendar year per

thousand mid-year population.

The death rate refers to the number of known deaths occurring in a calendar year per thousand mid-year population.

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