On the move: Hong Kong's population at the end of 2005 stood above 6.97 million, according to provisional data.

Hong Kong's population swelled to 6,970,800 at the end of 2005, according to the Census & Statistics Department's provisional figures. This represents a 0.8% increase - or 55,100 more people than at the end of 2004.

From the end of 2004 to the end of 2005, Hong Kong recorded 57,300 births and 38,300 deaths, a natural increase of 19,000. This accounted for 34.5% of the population growth.

More people moved into Hong Kong than left during the year, resulting in a net inflow of 36,100 people - accounting for the remaining 60% of the population growth.

Only 222,400 of the population at the end of 2005 were deemed 'mobile residents', that is permanent residents who had spent from one month to a maximum of three months in Hong Kong during the six months before or after the time they were counted.

The rest of the population was deemed 'usual residents', either permanent residents who had spent at least half of the six months before or after the time they were counted in Hong Kong, or non-permanent residents.

The population figure excludes visitors. There were 404,200 visitors in Hong Kong at the end of 2005.