Evolution of Population Structure and Spatial Distribution in Shanghai Since 2000

Since 2000, the social-economy conditions of Shanghai has been developing rapidly, which results from the transformation of city function, the adjustment of industrial structure, the transition of the old city, and the city renewal. Correspondingly, the population structure and spatial distribution in Shanghai has made a big change. Based on data from the Fifth and Sixth National Census of Shanghai, this paper analyzed the characteristics of population changes and spatial distribution since 2000. The research findings reveal that the trend of multi-center population pattern is strengthening, and the floating population dominating the growth in suburbs becomes the population growth center of Shanghai. However, Shanghai also faces with several problems, such as population aging, shortage of professional and technical personnel, floating population pouring, high population density in the inner city, and lacking driving force of the population decentralization. The current population decentralization is mainly led by industrial suburbanization and residential suburbanization. Nevertheless, the high-quality public service and infrastructure concentrated in the inner city, lacking Mass Rapid Transit to the suburbs and slow construction of new city hindered the population decentralization. To conclude, the sustainable development of population in Shanghai still faces great challenges in the future.