Abstract:
Guizhou Province of China is one of the regions with the most uneven population distribution and economic development in the country. The spatialization of population provides strong technical support for us to understand the characteristics of fine population distribution and provides guidance for regional development. Based on the nighttime lighting data and the resident population demographic data modeling inversion in 1993, 2003 and 2013, the population distribution grid map was obtained. Firstly, the resident population statistics were used to test the accuracy of the results of the population spatialization. Secondly, population distribution characteristics were further explored by analyzing the Province’s population distribution map (of 2013) as well as its land use, elevations, slopes and other factors. The results show that: ① In the past 20 years, the population has concentrated in Guiyang City and formed a concentrated area that is increasing year by year. ② The population of each county has concentrated in urban areas, with an increase in population density and concentration area. ③ 46.05% of the population of Guizhou Province is distributed in grassland areas, followed by areas with forests and cultivated land. The urban area is small, with a dense and concentrated population. ④ According to the altitude gradients, Guizhou Province can be divided into three steps. The population is sparse in the low-altitude areas in the East and the high-altitude areas in the West. And the central part of the mid-high altitudes takes up the largest area and has the largest population. ⑤ The majority of Guizhou's population concentrates in the area with slopes <15°. And the population distribution declines with the increase of slopes.