Hong Kong’s population edges up 0.3% but births fall below 30,000 for first time

Hong Kong's population increased by 0.3% in mid-2026, reaching over 7.5 million residents, but fewer than 30,000 births were recorded for the first time ever, marking a 15.6% decline compared to the previous year. The natural population decline of 20,400 was due to 50,100 deaths during the same period. Despite a "baby bonus" scheme launched in 2023, offering a cash award of HK$20,000 (US$2,560) to new parents, births continued to fall to a record low of 31,100 in 2025.

The fertility rate in Hong Kong is the second lowest among 236 jurisdictions, behind only Macau. Critics argue that the government's current incentives are insufficient to boost birth rates and propose raising the cash incentive for parents having a second child to HK$30,000. However, experts suggest that the focus should shift to parents who already have at least one child, as many couples, including single women, are already childless or unwilling to have more children.