Changes of population structure and household energy consumption in China

Key Points

• This research aims to examine how changes in China's population structure affect household energy consumption, with a focus on the mechanisms involved.
• Constructed an extended randomized environment impact assessment model using household energy consumption data from 2006 to 2022.
• Performed static and dynamic panel regression analysis across various provinces in China, excluding specific regions.
• Conducted regional heterogeneity tests to explore the effects of declining birth rates and aging populations.
• Higher levels of declining birth rates correlate with lower total household energy consumption.
• Economic underdevelopment intensifies the impact of child dependency ratios on energy consumption, while developed areas show greater sensitivity to elderly demographics.
• Regions with larger populations are more affected by changes in population structure, particularly by aging.