Hong Kong’s population shrank substantially over the past year as people left the city after Beijing implemented the National Security Law, which curtailed protest and dissent.
The city saw an outflow of 89,200 residents in the year through the end of June 2021, contributing to a 1.2% drop in the total population to about 7.39 million people, according to government data released Thursday. That population figure also includes the inflow of 13,900 people holding one-way permits, and a net natural decrease of 11,800 people due to births and deaths.
Hong Kong’s population declined in both 2019-20 and 2020-21, following at least a decade of consistent growth from mid-2010, the data shows. The city faced a historic 18-month recession from mid-2019, spurred by political protests and the pandemic.