As a vital metropolitan region in Northern China, the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei (Jing-Jin-Ji) area is characterized by significant spatial heterogeneity in population distribution. However, the features and evolving trends of this heterogeneity across different scales are not yet fully understood. Previous studies on population distribution in the Jing-Jin-Ji region have predominantly focused on the overall characteristics at the macroscale. There is a lack of research on the evolution patterns of population distribution at the microscale of townships and subdistricts and interscale mechanisms. Moreover, comparative analyses using multiple methods and multisource data are also insufficient. Leveraging diverse data sources such as statistics, census records, and the LandScan population grid data set, along with analytical methods like population primacy, spatial Gini coefficient, Dagum–Gini coefficient, spatial autocorrelation index, population center of gravity, and spatial clustering, We conducted a multiscale analysis of the nonequilibrium, center of gravity evolution, density distribution, spatial clustering, and spatial dependence of population dynamics in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region. This study revealed an increasing trend in population agglomeration over the last 20 years, leading to a heightened state of nonequilibrium. The geographical patterns of population accumulation delineate considerable spatial differentiation, while shifts in the population growth center and hotspots are notably visible. The epicenters of population clusters have evolved beyond the metropolitan boundaries of Beijing and Tianjin, exemplifying the robust development trajectory of the Beijing–Tianjin Corridor. Simultaneously, high- and low-value population catchment areas have proliferated, augmented by escalating the spatial dependence of the population distribution, promising further intensification of spatial nonequilibrium in the population distribution. Through comparative analysis across municipal, district/county, and township/street scales, this study provides a comprehensive characterization of spatial disparities and evolutionary trends in population distribution within the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region. It offers precise decision-making support for regional population policy formulation, urban planning, and resource allocation.
Ka Yang (Thu,) studied this question.