Exploring rural decline with the perspective of demographics: Case study of Hubei, China.

Rural development has lagged behind in contrast to the rapid development of urban areas in China and one of the biggest consequences for this change is the serious rural out-migration. The accompanying demographic problems represented by serious rural population aging and underdeveloped rural population educational level are under-researched. By comparing the average population age and educational level with and without the large number of the exodus of rural residents in rural area, this research calculated the specific impacts of rural out-migration on rural population aging and educational level in Hubei, Central China. The average age of rural population in Hubei has increased by 2.67, and the average education year of rural population in Hubei has decreased by 0.42 by not taking into account the huge group of rural out-migration in 2010. Research results indicated that rural out-migration has significantly intensified the rural population aging and deterioration of education level. And furthermore, the influences and underlying reasons of the changing rural demographic were interpreted far and wide. The counties in Hubei were divided into eight categories according to population aging, educational level and the comprehensive impacts of out-migration on the former two. Well-calibrated and differential development strategies were put forward according to various categories to which the areas belong to revitalize the rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]