BEIJING: At least eight provincial-level regions in China reported growth in their resident populations last year amid rapid urbanization, according to data released by local authorities and experts.
The regions that reported population growth are the Xinjiang Uygur and Xizang autonomous regions, and Shaanxi province in western China; Zhejiang, Anhui and Fujian provinces in the east; and Guangdong and Hainan provinces in the south, according to statistics from regional authorities.
Meanwhile, the populations of Jiangsu province and Tianjin remained stable from the previous year, while 19 provincial-level regions reported a decline. Heilongjiang province and the Ningxia Hui autonomous region have yet to release their demographic data for last year.
China’s total population declined for the third consecutive year in 2024, falling by 1.39 million to 1.408 billion, largely due to lower birth rates and a shrinking number of women of childbearing age.
Population changes at the regional level are shaped by natural shifts — defined as the difference between births and deaths — as well as internal migration.
Wang Jinying, a professor at Hebei University’s School of Economics and a demography expert, province said that saw population increases last year follow three distinct growth models.
“Thanks to their thriving economies and ample job opportunities, provinces such as Zhejiang and Guangdong witnessed significant influxes of migrants from other regions, leading to an increase in their resident populations,” he said.
Official data show Guangdong’s population grew by 740,000 to reach 127.8 million, while Zhejiang’s population increased by 430,000 to 66.7 million.
Xinjiang also followed this pattern, Wang said. The frontier region bordering Central Asia has become a key hub of the Belt and Road Initiative in recent years, drawing residents with increased economic and trade opportunities.
In addition, provinces such as Anhui, Shaanxi and Fujian — once beset by a high number of out-migrants due to underdeveloped economies — have seen accelerated economic growth in recent years, Wang said.
“This has not only curbed outward migration but also spurred a return of residents, boosting their resident population figures,” he said.
However, the population growth in these regions remains relatively modest. Shaanxi and Anhui each recorded a year-on-year increase of fewer than 20,000 people, while Fujian’s population rose by 100,000. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
