Rural　depopulation　is　rapidly　becoming　a　worldwide　phenomenon,　affecting　both　developed　and　developing　countries,　such　as　China,　alike.　China＇s　rural　population　has　been　on　an　increasingly　significant　downward　trend　in　recent　years,　and　while　this　massive　population　influx　into　urban　centers　has　provided　an　abundant　labor　force,　it　has　also　exacerbated　a　number　of　existing　problems　at　both　urban　and　rural　level.　This　study　utilizes　national　population　census　data　to　analyze　changes　in　China＇s　rural　population　over　the　years　2000-2020,　and　to　assess　changes　in　associated　characteristics　and　influencing　factors.　The　spatiotemporal　characteristics,　spatial　autocorrelation　characteristics,　and　factors　influencing　rural　population　change　were　all　analyzed　in　detail.　The　results　obtained　demonstrate　that　while　China＇s　rural　population　declined　as　a　whole　from　2000　to　2020,　the　decline　was　more　significant　from　2010　to　2020.　From　a　spatial　perspective,　as　compared　to　China＇s　other　two　economic　regions　(eastern　and　western),　the　greatest　decline　occurred　in　China＇s　central　region.　Significant　differences　were　also　observed　in　the　changes　that　occurred　to　China＇s　rural　population　among　urban　agglomerations　and　peripheral　areas.　From　a　national　perspective,　rural　depopulation　was　positively　affected　by　economic　growth　and　urbanization　processes,　with　spatial　differences　also　notable　among　the　influencing　factors.