A Multidimensional Diagnostic Model of Rural Population Imbalance Within the Urban–Rural Context: Structure, Flow, and Spatial Distribution

Structural population imbalance has become a critical issue in rural areas under ongoing urban–rural transformation. Rural demographic change is closely linked to urban development and spatial planning, yet existing studies have largely focused on single-dimensional issues such as aging or population decline, limiting understanding of regional demographic diversity and rural–urban interactions. To address this limitation, this study proposes the Point–Flow–Area (PFA) model, a multidimensional framework integrating population age structure, migration patterns, and spatial distribution. The model is applied through empirical case studies to examine rural population imbalance across regions. The results reveal substantial regional differences in demographic structure, migration dynamics, and spatial clustering. Even regions with similar age structures exhibit different migration pathways and spatial patterns, reflecting varying relationships with nearby urban areas. These findings indicate that rural population change should be understood within broader urban–rural systems rather than as isolated local phenomena. The PFA model offers both a conceptual framework and an analytical tool for examining multidimensional population dynamics and supporting more place-sensitive approaches to regional and urban planning.