The spatial patterns and determinants of internal migration of older adults in China from 1995 to 2015

Abstract

Although China was one of the countries with the fastest-growing aging population in the world, limited scholarly attention has been paid to migration among older adults in China. The full picture of their migration in the entire country over time remains unknown. This study examines the spatial patterns of older interprovincial migration flows and their drivers in China over the period 1995 to 2015, using four waves of census data and intercensal population sample survey data. Results from eigenvector spatial filtering negative binomial regressions indicate that older adults tend to migrate away from low cost-of-living rural areas to high cost-of-living urban and rural areas, moving away from areas with extreme temperature differences. The location of their grandchildren is among the most important attractions. Our findings suggest that family-oriented migration is more common than amenity-led migration among retired Chinese older adults, and the cost-of-living is an indicator of economic opportunities for adult children and the quality of senior care services.

The geography of older adults' migration in China: Spatial patterns and driving forces

“…Based on the changing needs and preferences of older adults at different life stages, Litwak and Longino (1987) divided older migrants into three types: migration for comfort, assistance and care. This categorization of migration patterns has been re-examined in the United States (Bradley, 2011) and shows some explanatory power in the Chinese context (Liu et al, 2022). In a recent study, older migrants were grouped as follows: affluent retirement migrants, older family-joining migrants, older economic migrants and older return migrants (King et al, 2017).…”

“…In countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States, with a long-standing individualism culture, older adults prefer to migrate to small-or medium-sized cities, suburbs and rural areas (Dennett & Stillwell, 2010;Plane & Jurjevich, 2009). By contrast, the big cities are the most important destination for older migrants in China (Liu et al, 2022). In 2005, Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Guangdong absorbed 44.9% of the country's migrants aged over 60 years (Zhang & Zhou, 2013).…”