The population of the city is increasing rapidly.  In 1983, there were only about 86000 people in the city.  By 1993, the population had  exceeded 150,000 and the community was upgraded to city status.  The current population is 203,214 (as of the end of May 2004), and the city now has the highest population and population density in Tainan county.  The main reason behind this population growth is that the booming industrial and traffic developments attracted a large number of people from neighboring towns or villages and outer cities to work and live in Yong Kang.