The changing trends of internal migration and urbanization in China: new evidence from the seventh National Population Census

This paper draws on information provided by China’s 2020 National Population Census and several previous censuses to review briefly the changing trends of internal migration and urbanization in China. An examination of data from the recent census reveals several characteristics of migration: population movements are more active than ever, there has been dramatic growth in urban-to-urban migration, and there has been explosive growth in the number of mismatches between people’s place of residence and place of household registration. Census data also reveals the impact migration is having on urban population trends: China has entered a more mature stage of urbanization; movement of the floating population becomes the leading factor in urban population growth. From a policy point of view, this paper also suggests that China’s urbanization strategy should consider the diversity of migrants; and promoting the effective supply of public service based on place of residence is urgently needed.