Demographic Changes in China's Three Major Megalopolises

The economic development and urbanization of China in recent years have resulted in the formation of a few large-scale megalopolises, mostly in the eastern coastal area. The three major megalopolises are the Bohai Sea rim area around Beijing, the Yangtze River Delta area around Shanghai, and the Pearl River Delta area around Guangdong Province. I define the three major megalopolises as having been formed by 156 urban areas that are administratively categorized as districts or larger units as a result of rapid infrastructure development in recent years. Per the 2010 census, the average population in these urban areas is five million.

This paper analyzes the causes and characteristics of demographic changes in the three major megalopolises, using 2000 and 2010 census data of the 156 urban areas. First, I define and categorize the three megalopolises according to their regional characteristics. Next, through a quantitative analysis of the census data, I examine the similarities and differences of the demographic changes in the three megalopolises. Then, the causes of the demographic changes are analyzed. Finally, the impact of demographic changes on Chinese economic society and related policy issues are discussed.