On September 19, the “Tieling Release” public account released a message showing that there is a serious outflow of rural population in Tieling City, Liaoning Province. The proportion of permanent residents is less than 40% of the registered population, with some villages having an empty-nest rate of nearly 90%. This news made it to the hot search on Baidu on September 23.
The term “empty nest villages” refers to some rural areas where a large number of young laborers have permanently or temporarily migrated to cities, leading to a sharp decline in the permanent population of many villages. The majority of those who reside in and live in rural areas are the elderly, women, and children.
The official account of the Tieling City Judicial Bureau of the Communist Party of China, the “Tieling Release” public account, published a research report titled “Investigation and Reflection on Strengthening Grassroots Governance in ‘Empty Nest Villages'” on September 19.
The “Investigation and Reflection” survey covered 38 administrative villages in 3 townships in Qinghe District, Tieling City. The survey results showed a widespread severe outflow of rural population, with the permanent population accounting for less than 40% of the registered population. For example, under the jurisdiction of Zhangxiang Town, there are 19,545 registered residents and 5,167 permanent residents; under Yangmulinzi Town, there are 21,297 registered residents and 9,981 permanent residents; under Niejia Manchu Township, there are 10,389 registered residents and 5,043 permanent residents. The research results indicate a common problem of “empty nest villages.”
Based on the sampling survey, it was found that in two sampled villages, there is a declining or sharp decline in population numbers. For instance, in Langjiatun Village, there are 304 households with 1,060 residents, and 420 permanent residents, accounting for 39.62%. Among these, 305 elderly people over the age of 60 live in the village, with 267 being empty-nest elderly, accounting for 87.54%. In Xinkeng Village, there are 210 households with 530 residents, and 60 permanent residents, accounting for 11.32%. The majority of young adults aged 20 to 60 are not engaged in farming, as most have moved to big cities for work, leaving only the elderly and children at home, resulting in an empty-nest rate of nearly 90%. The declining trend in the village population is expected to continue in the next two to three decades.
Regarding the causes of “empty nest villages,” the “Investigation and Reflection” report states that firstly, an increasing number of young people in rural areas are moving to cities for better employment opportunities, as the income from working in fields or working in cities shows a significant disparity. Factors such as wages, children’s education, among others, contribute to the reluctance of young people from rural areas to return home, accelerating the formation of “empty nest villages.”
Secondly, the low level of economic development contributes to empty nests. In the 38 administrative villages surveyed, more than half of them are located in mountainous or semi-mountainous areas, where transportation is not convenient, with 18 villages having collective economic benefits of less than 100,000 yuan. The vast majority of villagers opt for increased income through working outside.
Furthermore, most villages have a single-industry structure, where residents are used to traditional farming methods, mainly focusing on grain crops. Only a few are engaged in characteristic planting and breeding. The fluctuation in market prices for livestock farming leads to a high-risk and inconsistent income, causing young people to have a lesser interest in engaging in animal husbandry, with nearly 80% choosing to work outside for a living.
Lastly, the disparity in the living standards between urban and rural areas contributes to the phenomenon of empty nests. In pursuit of a better environment for their own and their children’s education and living conditions, some villagers voluntarily leave rural areas for cities. Although residing in urban areas, these villagers still retain their rural household registration, land, and houses.
The “Investigation and Reflection” report points out that “empty nest villages” pose significant risks. Firstly, the obvious labor shortage leads to a general increase in labor costs in rural areas, thereby raising agricultural production costs. Due to the scarcity of labor, during the busy agricultural seasons, farmers are forced to pay daily wages of 200-300 yuan for planting, harvesting, and picking. Secondly, there is a large number of idle housing resources. Thirdly, left-behind residents face various difficulties. As empty-nest villages are mainly inhabited by the elderly and children, it becomes challenging to deal with diseases or emergencies, leading to adverse consequences. Moreover, the emotional and psychological problems faced by left-behind children due to the absence of parents in their daily lives can result in various issues.
Additionally, “empty nest villages” suffer from a lack of talent, restricting industrial development and lowering the level of industrial organization.
The release of this news resonated with netizens.
Netizen “Ten-Year E1de0” revealed: “It’s not just Tieling, this situation exists to varying degrees across the country. People have to earn a living to support their families.”
“Healthy Bath Experience” commented: “It’s a normal phenomenon. The situation is the same in my hometown, where most of the young adults have left the villages to pursue a better life in cities!”
Netizen “Lifangfang0532” lamented: “It’s not that we willingly leave our hometowns, but life forces us to. How many people from Beijing do you see leaving the city?”