Elderly Migration in China: Types, Patterns, and Determinants

Abstract

We examined the migration patterns of older adults in China and the determinants associated with migration. Using select data from the 2011 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), we conducted a spatial analysis to explore the geographical patterns of different types of older migrants. The relationships between personal, environmental attributes, and migration were examined using logistic-linear modeling techniques. Approximately 6.6% of the Chinese adults aged 60 and older migrated in the past 10 years. Elderly migration occurred primarily in metropolitan areas and frontier provinces in China. Personal attributes, family structure, and housing conditions were associated with migration. The spatial patterns were associated with personal culture background, social policy, and regional development. The implications of elderly migration, with respect to establishing proper social policy and paying attention to the living environment of both migrant and non-migrant elders were discussed.