Population reaches more than 650,000

The total population at end-2017 increased by 8,200 year-on-year to 653,100, with the female population accounting for 53 percent of the population, according to information released yesterday by the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC).

The elderly population (aged 65 and over) made up 10.5 percent of the total, up by 0.7 percentage points year-on-year. The proportion of the adult population (aged 15-64) dropped slightly to 76.7 percent. The ageing ratio rose to 83 percent, indicating a continuous ageing of the population.

In 2017, there was a total of 6,529 live births, down by 617 year-on-year. Mortality decreased by 128 year-on-year to 2,120 in 2017, with 59.1 percent being males. Regarding cause of death, mortality from malignant neoplasms (growths or cancers) (726) was the highest, accounting for 34.2 percent of the total deaths, down by 2.1 percentage points year-on-year; mortality from pneumonia and influenza (317) and heart diseases (199) made up 15 percent and 9.4 percent of the total, respectively.

Non-resident workers totaled 179,456 at end-2017, up by 1,818 year-on-year. Following the completion of several large-scale entertainment facilities and residential projects, the number of non-resident workers in construction dropped by 12.8 percent year-on-year, marking the third consecutive year of decrease. Still according to DSEC, Chinese immigrants went down by 2,121 year-on-year to 4,206 in 2017, with those coming from Guangdong Province dropping by 2,010 to 2,866. The number of individuals granted residency rights increased by 80 year-on-year to 1,527. Meanwhile, 913 illegal Chinese immigrants were repatriated to the mainland, down by 377 year-
on-year.

The number of marriage registration cases recorded in 2017 (3.883) was similar to the figure in 2016. Median age at first marriage was 28.8 for bridegrooms and 27.5 for brides. The number of divorce cases went up by 234 year-on-year to 1,479, of which divorce by mutual consent made up 94.5 percent.

At end-2017, the number of households totaled 191,500, up by 2,300 year-on-year.