China's Floating Population: New Evidence from the 2000 Census

Authors: Zai Liang¹; Zhongdong Ma²

Source: Population and Development Review, Volume 30, Number 3, September 2004 , pp. 467-488(22)

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Abstract:

This article uses tabulations from the 2000 Population Census of China along with a micro-level data sample from the census to provide a picture of China's floating population: migrants without local household registration (hukou), a status resulting in significant social and economic disadvantages. By 2000, the size of China's floating population had grown to nearly 79 million, if that category is defined as migrants who moved between provinces or counties and resided at their destinations for six months or more. Intra-county floating migration is similarly large, contributing another 66 million to the size of the floating population. The article also discusses the geographic pattern of the floating population and the reasons for moving as reported by migrants. Policy implications are noted.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1728-4457.2004.00024.x

Affiliations: 1: State University of New York at Albany 2: Division of Social Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Publication date: 2004-09-01