Investigating the Imbalanced Patterns and Determinants of Kindergarten Distribution Across China

The unbalanced allocation of educational resources in kindergartens across China has attracted increasing attention from scholars and the public. However, few studies have examined their spatially imbalanced distribution and its influencing factors. Based on point-of-interest data, this study systematically analyzes the spatially imbalanced distribution characteristics of kindergartens in China from a multiscale perspective using the spatial analysis and spatial regression model to identify the factors influencing its formation pattern. The results reveal that the distribution pattern is “more in the southeast and fewer in the northwest,” with the Hu Huanyong Line serving as the boundary. Kernel density analysis revealed that areas with a density greater than 0.34 individual/km2 were primarily concentrated in provincial capitals and major metropolitan areas, exhibiting a gradual decrease outward from these core zones. It also reveals a “large dispersion and small aggregation”, with a concentration around mega-cities, urban agglomerations, and provincial capitals. Significant spatial auto-correlations were found at all administrative levels, with hotspots distributed in northeast, north, and southeast China. The spatial determinants of kindergartens distribution in China exhibited significant spatial heterogeneity. The findings provide a reference in improving the spatial pattern and the state of unbalanced development of kindergarten education in China, as well as scientific suggestions to optimize resource allocation.