Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the significant population decline in two-thirds of China's provinces, highlighting a demographic shift and the implications for economic and social structures across the country [3][4]. Group 1: Population Decline - In 2024, 20 out of 31 provincial-level regions in China experienced a decrease in permanent resident population, with only 8 regions showing growth [7][8]. - Shandong province saw the largest decline, losing 430,000 residents in 2024, marking three consecutive years of population decrease [10][11]. - Other provinces like Henan and Hunan also faced significant losses, each losing around 300,000 residents [11][12]. Group 2: Urban Migration Patterns - The article notes a trend where young graduates are increasingly leaving their hometowns, with many opting for larger cities, leading to a concentration of population in urban centers [6][15]. - In contrast, provinces like Zhejiang have seen population growth across multiple cities, with Hangzhou adding 659,000 residents from 2020 to 2024 [18][21]. - Conversely, in Hunan, only Changsha experienced population growth, while the remaining cities saw declines, indicating a trend of urban concentration [19][23]. Group 3: Economic Factors Influencing Population Movement - The article highlights how provinces like Anhui and Guizhou are reversing population declines through industrial growth, particularly in the automotive and data center sectors [30][31]. - Anhui's automotive industry has seen significant growth, contributing to a population increase of 1.48 million from 2010 to 2020 [32][35]. - Guizhou has transformed its economy through the establishment of data centers, leading to a notable increase in software industry employment and revenue [36][38].

Core Viewpoint - Guiyang has emerged as the city with the highest population growth in 2024, surpassing major cities like Shenzhen and Hefei, with a net increase of 199,600 residents, bringing its total population to 6.6025 million [2][3][4]. Population Growth - Guiyang's population growth has been consistently strong, with an increase of 182,500 residents in 2023, ranking second nationally [6][10]. - Over the past four years, Guiyang has added a total of 612,700 residents, maintaining an annual growth rate above 100,000 [7][8]. - The city's natural population growth is significant, with a birth rate of 10.74‰ in 2024, leading to a natural increase of 116,000 people [12][15][20]. Economic Performance - Guiyang's GDP growth has been impressive, with a nominal increase of 152.62% from 2014 to 2024, ranking fourth among major cities [21][23]. - In 2023, Guiyang's GDP growth rate was 6%, outperforming the national average by 0.8 percentage points [25][26]. - The city's GDP for 2024 is projected at 577.741 billion yuan, with a continued growth rate of 6% [26][28]. Industrial Development - Guiyang has developed a robust big data industry, attracting major tech companies and establishing a complete industrial chain from data collection to application [67]. - The digital economy in Guiyang accounted for over 50% of its GDP in 2023, with significant growth in electronic information manufacturing and software services [68]. - Despite challenges in traditional industries, Guiyang's industrial output value reached 117.632 billion yuan in 2023, growing by 9.1% [51][52]. Comparison with Other Cities - Compared to Kunming and Nanning, Guiyang's economic and population growth has been more favorable, with Kunming experiencing a decline in GDP growth and real estate investment [30][32][49]. - Guiyang's industrial strength is relatively weak compared to Kunming, but it has a unique advantage in the big data sector, which has driven its recent growth [64][66].