過去十年間，中國東北地區的人口減少幅度驚人，總計下降約1101萬人，這個數字幾乎相當於整個哈爾濱市的人口消失。2024年，東北三省的常住人口再次減少超過80萬，其中黑龍江省減少33萬人、遼寧省減少27萬人、吉林省減少22.1萬人。這一減少速度折合下來，相當於每年有一個中等城市的人口在東北地區消失，而全國中等城市總數僅有135個，這凸顯了東北人口流失的嚴重性與迫切性。

東北人口問題不僅表現在總量減少上，更反映在人口結構的惡化。該地區的出生率長期位居全國最低，而離婚率則位列全國最高，導致家庭結構和生育意願普遍低迷。自然死亡率高企，加上老齡化程度深遠，使得人口老化速度快於全國平均水平。與此同時，人才外流問題尤為嚴重，年輕勞動力和高學歷人才大量流向經濟更活躍的沿海城市和大都市，使得東北的經濟活力和創新能力進一步受限。

造成這些現象的原因是多方面的。首先，經濟結構轉型不充分，傳統重工業和煤炭、鋼鐵等產業占比過高，經濟增長乏力，新興產業和高附加值行業發展不足，使得年輕人難以找到穩定且有前景的就業機會。其次，薪酬水平和生活便利度相對低下，教育、醫療、娛樂等公共服務資源不及東南沿海城市，吸引力不足，導致人才和青年人口外流。第三，人口老齡化與出生率低下形成惡性循環，家庭生育意願下降，進一步加劇人口減少。

此外，社會心理因素也起到一定作用。長期經濟低迷和生活機會有限，使許多年輕人對未來缺乏信心，選擇離開故鄉尋求更廣闊的發展空間。城市更新和基礎設施建設滯後，也使得城市對新居民和人才的吸引力不足。綜合來看，東北的人口外移既是經濟結構和發展策略問題，也是社會、文化與生活條件等多重因素交織的結果。

Over the past decade, the population of China’s northeastern region has declined dramatically, decreasing by approximately 11.01 million people—a number nearly equivalent to the entire population of Harbin. In 2024 alone, the permanent population of the three northeastern provinces fell by more than 800,000, with Heilongjiang losing 330,000, Liaoning 270,000, and Jilin 221,000. At this rate, the region effectively loses the population of a medium-sized city each year, while China as a whole has only 135 medium-sized cities, highlighting the severity and urgency of the population decline in the Northeast.

The population issue in the Northeast is not only about the total numbers; it also reflects a deteriorating demographic structure. The region consistently records the lowest birth rates in the country, while divorce rates are the highest, resulting in weakened family structures and low fertility intentions. High natural mortality rates combined with deepening aging trends have accelerated population aging beyond the national average. At the same time, talent outflow has become a serious problem, as young and highly educated workers migrate in large numbers to economically vibrant coastal cities and major metropolitan areas, further limiting the Northeast’s economic vitality and innovation capacity.

Several factors contribute to this phenomenon. First, economic structural transformation has been insufficient: traditional heavy industries, coal, and steel still dominate, while economic growth remains sluggish. Emerging industries and high-value sectors are underdeveloped, making it difficult for young people to find stable and promising employment opportunities. Second, income levels and living convenience are relatively low, and public services such as education, healthcare, and entertainment lag behind those in southeastern coastal cities, reducing the region’s attractiveness to talent. Third, aging and low birth rates create a vicious cycle, with declining fertility intentions further accelerating population decline.

Social and psychological factors also play a role. Prolonged economic stagnation and limited opportunities have caused many young people to lose confidence in their future and seek broader prospects elsewhere. Slow urban renewal and underdeveloped infrastructure further reduce the appeal of these cities to new residents and skilled workers. Overall, the population outflow from the Northeast is the result of a complex interplay of economic structure, development strategy, social conditions, cultural factors, and living standards.