Abstract
This paper presents a profile of internal migration in China in the first decade of the twenty-first century using national census data. Although there are some changes in population migration features and composition of migrants, the regional pattern and migration distribution overall is quite similar over time. China experienced its largest volume of internal migration during the 2005–2010 period. Migrants were much more focused on three major destinations – Changjiang Delta, Pearl River Delta, and Beijing/Tianjin area – which received more than 40 % of migrants nationwide, while Shanghai and the surrounding areas continued to be highly attractive destinations for migrants. Younger migrants have higher education attainment. As more migrants worked in tertiary industries, there was a slight increase in the proportion of inter-provincial migrants who worked as professional and technical personnel, while the proportion of workers engaged in farming decreased significantly. Regional economic and demographic disparities were key factors which influenced migration decisions; migration in turn contributed significantly to demographic change in both the sending and receiving regions. While most developed mega cities received young labor which allowed them to maintain their levels economic growth, rural villages were major sending areas which caused them to age faster.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
The definition of urban in China has changed over time. China adopted an approach much clearer and more consistent with internationally accepted practice since the 2000 population census. The inclusion of de facto residence, rather than by household registration only, also included more urban residents than before. The current definition of urban has been enacted since August 1, 2008 (“Urban-Rural Definition for Statistics”, refer to the website of National Bureau of Statistics, http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjbz/t20061018_402603208.htm).
- 2.
References
Chan, K. W. (2012). Migration and development in China: Trends, geography and current issues. Migration and Development, 1(2), 187–205.
Chan, K. W., Henderson, J. V., & Kai Yuen Tsui. (2008). Spatial dimensions of Chinese economic development. In T. Rawski & L. Brandt (Eds.), China’s great economic transformation. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Department of Population, Social, Science and Technology, & National Bureau of Statistics. (2007). 2005 one percent population sampling survey result. Beijing: China Statistics Press.
Duan, C., Yang, G., Zhang, F., & Lu, X. (2008). Nine major trends in migration since the opening and reform in China. Population Research, 32(6), 30–43.
Economic and Social Council, United Nations. (2013). New trends in migration: Demographic aspects. New York: United Nations (E/CN.9/2013/3).
Lin, B. (2011). Population aging in China, 2000–2010. Almanac of China’s Population 2011. Institute of Population and Labor Economics, Beijing: Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
National Bureau of Statistics. (2012). National economy and social development statistics. http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/tjgb/ndtjgb/qgndtjgb/201302/t20130221_30027.html
National Bureau of Statistics of China and East-West Center (NBS & EWC). (2007). Fertility estimates for provinces of China, 1975–2000. Beijing: China Statistics Press.
National Rural Fixed Site Survey Office. (2011). Increase of migrant workers and their wage growth. In Cai (Ed.), Reports on China’s population and labor (Vol. 12). Beijing: Social Sciences Academic Press.
Population Census Office under the State Council/Department of Population and Employment Statistics, & National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). (2011). Major figures on 2010 population census of China. Beijing: China Statistics Press.
Population Census Office under the State Council/Department of Population and Employment Statistics, & National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). (2012). Tabulation on the 2010 population census of China. Beijing: China Statistics Press.
Wang, G., & Huang, Z. (2014). The growth composition of urban population in China and its contribution to urbanization: 1991–2010. Chinese Journal of Population Science, 2, 2–16.
Wang, G., Pan, Z., & Lu, Y. (2012). China’s inter-provincial migration patterns and influential factors: Evidence from year 2000 and 2010 population census of China. Chinese Journal of Population Science, 5, 1–13.
Yi, H., Zhang, L., Luo, R., et al. (2011). Dropping out: Why are students leaving junior high in China’s poor rural areas? International Journal of Educational Development. doi:10.1016/j.ijedudev.2011.09.002.
Yu, T. (2012). Spatial-temporal features and influential factors of the China urban floating population growth. Chinese Journal of Population Science, 4, 47–58.
Zheng, Z. (2013). The changes of temporary migrants in China and policy implication. Chinese Journal of Population Science, 1, 88–97.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Zheng, Z., Yang, G. (2016). Internal Migration in China: Changes and Trends. In: Guilmoto, C., Jones, G. (eds) Contemporary Demographic Transformations in China, India and Indonesia. Demographic Transformation and Socio-Economic Development, vol 5. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24783-0_14
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24783-0_14
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-24781-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-24783-0
eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)