Hong Kong's Number of Births Falls Below 40,000 Last Year... Lowest in 56 Years

8% Sharp Decline Compared to Previous Year... Seven Consecutive Years of Decrease

Natural Population Decline with Deaths Exceeding Births Since 2020

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] The number of births in Hong Kong has fallen below 40,000, marking the lowest level in 56 years.

On the 28th, the Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) cited the local Census and Statistics Department's announcement, reporting that last year the number of births in Hong Kong dropped sharply by 8% to 38,684 compared to the previous year. This not only represents a decline for seven consecutive years but is also the lowest figure since official statistics began in 1966.

Chu Wochun, president of the Early Childhood Educators Association, said, "There is little chance that the birth rate will improve until the COVID-19 pandemic ends." President Chu assessed that the current situation is worse than when the SARS epidemic hit the city in 2003. At that time, the number of births reached 47,687, only slightly down from 48,119 the previous year.

The situation worsened further due to an immigration wave triggered in 2020 when China imposed the National Security Law on Hong Kong and tightened control over Hong Kong's political issues.

According to statistics from December last year, about 6,200 students dropped out of primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong during the first four months after summer vacation. SCMP reports that most of these were choices made to migrate with their families.

President Chu explained, "We used to process withdrawal applications mainly at the end of the second semester, but recently we have been receiving applications every month," calling it "an unprecedented situation."

He argued that increasing tax deductions for newborns and young children could improve the birth rate. He also proposed changing the current kindergarten fee support from a half-day subsidy to a full-day subsidy to reduce the burden on working parents.

Hong Kong also began experiencing natural population decline, with deaths exceeding births, starting in 2020, similar to South Korea. In 2020, 12,900 people died in Hong Kong, exceeding the number of births by 8,700.

Paul Yip, a population expert and professor at the University of Hong Kong, explained, "Although the number of births has been decreasing, falling below 40,000 is an extremely low level," adding, "The number of births in this city will not increase over the next three years, and couples are giving up on childbirth due to the prolonged pandemic." He further predicted, "Since those who migrated from Hong Kong last year were mainly young couples and professionals, the decline in births will continue."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.