Hukou

Hukou, or household registration, is a government-managed demographic registry in the People’s Republic of China. It is administered by local public security authorities and records a person’s officially registered domicile and family status. Hukou is used to determine eligibility for a range of public services and welfare, including education, healthcare, housing, pensions, and local employment opportunities. The system classifies individuals by place of origin and, historically, by urban versus rural status, with registration tied to the registered location rather than to immediate residence.

Historically established in the 1950s to control internal migration and allocate resources, hukou created a pronounced urban–rural divide. Urban residents typically enjoyed more extensive welfare benefits, while rural residents faced barriers when moving to cities to work or study. Migration for work has long occurred, but without changing hukou, migrants in urban areas often lacked full access to local services for themselves and their children.

Since the late 20th century, reforms have sought to ease mobility and broaden access to services for people living away from their registered locality. The National New-type Urbanization Plan (2014–2020) and subsequent policies encourage cities to grant better access to education, healthcare, housing, and social security for migrants, though the degree of access varies by locality. In many places, a parallel residence-permit or point-based system has been introduced to provide temporary rights without full hukou transfer, enabling some services for non-local residents.

Today, the hukou system remains a central instrument in China’s social policy, shaping where people can study and work and how public resources are allocated. Reforms continue, balancing urbanization, mobility, and social equity, with ongoing debates about the system’s fairness and long-term structure.