How many locals are there in Shanghai? ——Shanghai’s population structure from data
As one of the largest cities in China, Shanghai's population structure has always been the focus of social attention. In recent years, with the acceleration of urbanization, the proportion of Shanghai’s migrant population has continued to increase, while the proportion of local population has relatively decreased. So, how many locals are there in Shanghai? This article will use structured data to analyze the population structure of Shanghai for you.
1. Ratio of Shanghai’s total population to local population
According to the latest statistics, Shanghai's permanent population is approximately 24.87 million, of which the registered population is approximately 14.5 million. Among the registered population, the proportion of true “Shanghai locals” (that is, aboriginal people whose ancestral home is in Shanghai) is not high. The following is the specific data:
| population category | Quantity (10,000 people) | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| permanent population | 2487 | 100% |
| Registered population | 1450 | 58.3% |
| migrant population | 1037 | 41.7% |
| Shanghai native (ancestral home in Shanghai) | About 300-400 | 12%-16% |
2. Distribution characteristics of Shanghai’s local population
Shanghai's local population is mainly concentrated in the central urban area, especially in the old urban areas such as Huangpu, Jing'an, and Xuhui. As the city expands, many locals gradually move to the suburbs, but the central city is still the area with the most complete preservation of local culture. The following is the distribution of local population in various districts of Shanghai:
| area | Proportion of local population | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Huangpu District | about 35% | Old Shanghai cultural center |
| Jing'an District | about 30% | Combination of tradition and modernity |
| Xuhui District | about 25% | Rich educational and cultural resources |
| Pudong New Area | about 15% | The proportion of foreign population is relatively high |
| Minhang District | about 12% | Most locals are resettled for demolition |
3. Changing trends of Shanghai’s local population
In the past 10 years, the proportion of Shanghai's local population has shown a downward trend. On the one hand, it is due to the serious aging of the local population and low fertility rate; on the other hand, the continuous influx of foreign population. The following is Shanghai’s local population change data in the past 10 years:
| Year | Local population (10,000 people) | Proportion of total population |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | about 450 | 18.5% |
| 2016 | about 420 | 17.3% |
| 2019 | about 380 | 15.2% |
| 2022 | about 350 | 14.1% |
4. The inheritance and challenges of Shanghai’s local culture
As the proportion of local population declines, Shanghai's local culture is also facing the challenge of inheritance. The frequency of use of Shanghainese dialect has decreased, and traditional customs have gradually faded away. However, in recent years, Shanghai's awareness of local cultural protection has increased, and the government and social organizations are also actively promoting the inheritance of local culture.
For example, Shanghai dialect education has been introduced into some school classrooms, local characteristics have been preserved during the renovation of the old city, and traditional festival activities have been revived. These measures help maintain Shanghai’s unique urban cultural identity in the context of demographic changes.
5. Future Outlook
It is estimated that by 2030, the proportion of Shanghai's local population may drop to about 10%. How to balance urban development and cultural inheritance in the context of accelerating population mobility will be an important issue facing Shanghai. On the one hand, we must be inclusive and accepting of the new Shanghainese, and on the other hand, we must also protect the city’s local characteristics and cultural foundation.
Overall, Shanghai locals currently account for about 12%-16% of the total population, numbering between 3 million and 4 million. Although the proportion of this group is not high, it is still an important carrier of Shanghai's urban culture. Understanding these data on Shanghai's population structure will help us understand this international metropolis more comprehensively.
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