According to provisional data from the Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong's population reached approximately 7.53 million by the close of 2024. This represents a modest 0.1% rise compared to the previous year. The growth is primarily attributed to an influx of residents, with a net addition of 21,000 individuals. Despite this increase, the city continues to face a natural decline in population due to a higher number of deaths than births. Government officials highlight that this marks the third consecutive year of population growth following the post-pandemic normalization period.

The demographic changes in Hong Kong are influenced by various factors. One significant contributor to the population rise is the increased migration from mainland China and other regions. Policies aimed at attracting skilled professionals and labor have facilitated this movement. While there were 36,700 births recorded, the number of deaths stood at 51,400, leading to a natural decrease of 14,700 people. This disparity underscores the importance of migration in sustaining population levels.

Further analysis reveals that the number of usual residents grew by 0.3%, reaching 7,267,100, while mobile residents accounted for 267,100. The government attributes this trend to the implementation of policies designed to attract talent and enhance economic activity. These measures have been instrumental in reversing the population decline observed in earlier years.

In conclusion, Hong Kong's population saw a slight but noteworthy increase in 2024, driven primarily by migration rather than natural growth. The continued focus on attracting skilled workers and labor from abroad has played a crucial role in this development. As the city moves forward, balancing migration policies with addressing the natural population decline will remain a key challenge for policymakers.