IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/plo/pone00/0298199.html

Spatial-temporal evolution of population aging in the yangtze river delta urban agglomeration of China

Author

Listed:
  • Lei Zhang
  • Jie Tang
  • Meisa Xu
  • Daliang Zhang
  • Haixiao Chen
  • Dayong Zhang

Abstract

The Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration (YRDUA) is China’s most representative region with remarkable economic development vitality. The purpose of this study is to provide valuable data analysis to actively respond to the population aging in China. We mainly focus on the spatial and temporal evolution of population aging in YRDUA from 2000 to 2020 using city-level population data. This study constructs a multi-dimensional index system to measure population aging including population aging degree, speed, and density. It finds out: (1) the elderly population rate (EPR), the elder-child ratio (ECR), and the elderly dependency ratio (EDR) in the YRDUA area are gradually increasing from 2000 to 2020. In addition, the trends of these indicators in various cities and regions are relatively consistent. All 27 cities in YRDUA entered an aging society, from the primary to the moderate aging stage from 2000 to 2010 and from the moderate to the hyper aging stage from 2010 to 2020. (2) the absolute and relative growth rate of EPR is increasing from 2000 to 2020. However, the absolute and relative growth rate of ECR is increasing from 2000 to 2010 and then decreasing from 2010 to 2020. These results indicate that the two-child policy adopted by the Chinese government plays a positive role. (3) the density level of the elderly population in the YRDUA evolved from low in 2000 to middle in 2010 and then to high in 2020. (4) There are remarkable differences in the process of population aging among three provinces and one city. The contribution of this study is mainly reflected in two aspects: firstly, it constructs a multi-dimensional index system to measure population aging; secondly, using this multi-dimensional index system, it systematically observes the spatial and temporal evolution of population aging from 2000 to 2020 in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration.

Suggested Citation

  • Lei Zhang & Jie Tang & Meisa Xu & Daliang Zhang & Haixiao Chen & Dayong Zhang, 2024. "Spatial-temporal evolution of population aging in the yangtze river delta urban agglomeration of China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 19(2), pages 1-15, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0298199
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298199
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0298199
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0298199&type=printable
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1371/journal.pone.0298199?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hippolyte d'Albis & Fabrice Collard, 2013. "Age groups and the measure of population aging," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 29(23), pages 617-640.
    2. Jingxiang Zhang & Fulong Wu, 2006. "China's changing economic governance: Administrative annexation and the reorganization of local governments in the Yangtze River Delta," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(1), pages 3-21.
    3. repec:hal:pseose:hal-01015396 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Daizhong Tang & Mengyuan Mao & Jiangang Shi & Wenwen Hua, 2021. "The Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Urban-Rural Coordinated Development and Its Driving Forces in Yangtze River Delta," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-21, May.
    5. Xianzhong Cao & Bo Chen & Yuefang Si & Senlin Hu & Gang Zeng, 2021. "Spatio-temporal evolution and mechanism of regional innovation efficiency: Evidence from Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration of China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(7), pages 1-13, July.
    6. Mel Cousins, 2021. "The sustainability of China’s Urban Employees’ Pension Programme: A case of getting old before getting rich?," International Social Security Review, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 74(1), pages 59-77, January.
    7. Min Zhu & Zengxin Zhang & Bin Zhu & Rui Kong & Fengying Zhang & Jiaxi Tian & Tong Jiang, 2020. "Population and Economic Projections in the Yangtze River Basin Based on Shared Socioeconomic Pathways," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-21, May.
    8. Xu, Hengzhou & Jiao, Man, 2021. "City size, industrial structure and urbanization quality—A case study of the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration in China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    9. Yanting Tang & Jinlong Gao & Wen Chen, 2022. "The Spatial-Temporal Evolution of Population in the Yangtze River Delta, China: An Urban Hierarchy Perspective," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-15, October.
    10. Xin Xu & Yuan Zhao & Xinlin Zhang & Siyou Xia, 2018. "Identifying the Impacts of Social, Economic, and Environmental Factors on Population Aging in the Yangtze River Delta Using the Geographical Detector Technique," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-15, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jiawei Wu & Wei Sun, 2023. "Regional Integration and Sustainable Development in the Yangtze River Delta, China: Towards a Conceptual Framework and Research Agenda," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-20, February.
    2. Wei Zhao & Changjun Jiang, 2022. "Analysis of the Spatial and Temporal Characteristics and Dynamic Effects of Urban-Rural Integration Development in the Yangtze River Delta Region," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-22, July.
    3. Tiantian Gu & Shuyu Liu & Xuefan Liu & Yujia Shan & Enyang Hao & Miaomiao Niu, 2023. "Evaluation of the Smart City and Analysis of Its Spatial–Temporal Characteristics in China: A Case Study of 26 Cities in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-23, September.
    4. Kui Ying & Lin Ha & Yaohua Kuang & Jinhong Ding, 2024. "Population Distribution in Guizhou’s Mountainous Cities: Evolution of Spatial Pattern and Driving Factors," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-18, September.
    5. Fulong Wu, 2016. "China's Emergent City-Region Governance: A New Form of State Spatial Selectivity through State-orchestrated Rescaling," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(6), pages 1134-1151, November.
    6. Feng, Langang & Hu, Jin & Wu, Kaiya & Huang, Minmin & Hu, Mingjun, 2025. "Investigating the role of green mobility in coupling coordination of urbanization and ecological environment: Evidence from high-speed rail accessibility," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 24-33.
    7. Hippolyte d’Albis & Ikpidi Badji, 2017. "Intergenerational inequalities in standards of living in France," Economie et Statistique / Economics and Statistics, Institut National de la Statistique et des Etudes Economiques (INSEE), issue 491-492, pages 71-92.
    8. Bo Yuan & Kecen Jing & Yuhai Liu, 2024. "From agglomeration to dispersion: How does China's noncapital functions' relief affect regional development?," Journal of Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 64(3), pages 595-620, June.
    9. Shutian Zhou & Guofang Zhai & Yijun Shi, 2018. "What Drives the Rise of Metro Developments in China? Evidence from Nantong," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-20, August.
    10. Hippolyte d'Albis & Ikpidi Badji, 2017. "Les inégalités de niveaux de vie entre les générations en France," PSE-Ecole d'économie de Paris (Postprint) halshs-01524882, HAL.
    11. Jianglong Chen & Jinlong Gao & Feng Yuan, 2016. "Growth Type and Functional Trajectories: An Empirical Study of Urban Expansion in Nanjing, China," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(2), pages 1-18, February.
    12. Xiaolin Yu & Kai Wan, 2025. "Can removing regional barriers reduce carbon emissions in border regions? Quasi-natural experiments from China," Economic Change and Restructuring, Springer, vol. 58(2), pages 1-29, April.
    13. Yun Zhong & Xiaobo Su, 2019. "Spatial selectivity and intercity cooperation between Guangdong and Hong Kong," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 56(14), pages 3011-3029, November.
    14. Dezhong Duan & Yang Zhang & Ying Chen & Debin Du, 2019. "Regional Integration in the Inter-City Technology Transfer System of the Yangtze River Delta, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-19, May.
    15. Sijia Li & Lihua Wu, 2024. "Can regional integration promote industrial green transformation? Empirical evidence from Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 14(1), pages 117-134, March.
    16. Chao Zhang & Lixin Tian & Guochang Fang, 2024. "Analysis of sustainable transformation development patterns and heterogeneity of Chinese cities based on spatial general equilibrium model," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(10), pages 25689-25715, October.
    17. Mingrui Shen & Jianfa Shen, 2018. "Governing the countryside through state-led programmes: A case study of Jiangning District in Nanjing, China," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 55(7), pages 1439-1459, May.
    18. You He & Alex de Sherbinin & Guoqing Shi & Haibin Xia, 2022. "The Economic Spatial Structure Evolution of Urban Agglomeration under the Impact of High-Speed Rail Construction: Is There a Difference between Developed and Developing Regions?," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-17, September.
    19. Zhao, Congyu & Jia, Rongwen & Dong, Kangyin, 2023. "Does financial inclusion achieve the dual dividends of narrowing carbon inequality within cities and between cities? Empirical evidence from China," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    20. Hippolyte d'Albis & Fabrice Collard, 2013. "Age groups and the measure of population aging," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 29(23), pages 617-640.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0298199. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: plosone (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.