Spatial and Temporal Evolution Characteristics of Ecosystem Service Value and Population Distribution in China’s Coastal Areas

Coastal areas are among the most densely populated areas globally and are crucial components of terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Investigating the interplay between population distribution and the ecosystem service value (ESV) in coastal regions, along with their spatial and temporal dynamics, is crucial for safeguarding coastal ecological security, fostering regional sustainable development, and facilitating a harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. This study focuses on China’s coastal areas, utilizing land use and population data from 2000 to 2020 at the county-level scale. Several methods, such as geographic concentration, spatial autocorrelation, and the spatial mismatch index, are employed to reveal the relationships and spatial and temporal characteristics between population and the ESV. The main findings are as follows: (1) The population in China’s coastal areas increased from 580.6632 million to 700.7265 million, with a rising population density. The population distribution core is concentrated in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei Urban Agglomeration, the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration, and the Pearl River Delta Urban Agglomeration, with secondary cores forming near provincial capitals. (2) The ecological geographic concentration in China’s coastal areas is lower than that of the population, displaying a distribution pattern of “low–high–low” from north to south. The ESV in these areas has increased by CNY 121.66 billion, with a significant decline in the per capita ESV. Low values of ecological geographic concentrations are concentrated in the northern part of the research area, particularly across the North China Plain. (3) The correlation between the ESV and population in China’s coastal areas is negative, with relatively good overall coordination. Increased human activities and urbanization in the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta have led to the degradation of ecological functions.