The growth pattern and distribution characteristics of population in Shenzhen are analyzed using the statistical yearbook and the data from the 3

rd

 to 6

th

 census by mathematical statistics and GIS spatial analysis. The main results are as follows: (1) As a rapid immigration city

the population growth of Shenzhen was mainly influenced by economic factors and secondly by political factors. (2) The change of the permanent population is consistent with the change of the migrant population

and the fluctuation of population growth is relatively large. The dispersion coefficients are 0.54 and 0.66 from 1990 to 2000 and from 2000 to 2010

respectively. The outlying urban areas have mostly rapid growth in population

but those relatively remote areas show negative growth. (3) The “hot zones” are around the downtown areas; the “cold zones” lie mainly in the eastern region and Guangming new district. In addition

the index of population concentration is low and the distribution is relatively dispersed. The mean pointer center is showing the trend of the northwest direction. The spatial distribution of population density changed from “1 high center” to “1 high center+1 peripheral center” and then to “1 high center+2 peripheral center”. (4) The population growth of Shenzhen is stepping into maturity period from fast growing period

and the pattern of population distribution is in a transitional period from the absolute concentric to the relative concentric period.