Abstract: Based on the coupling coordination model, using the provincial panel data of China from 1987 to 2018, the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of the urbanization rate of population, economy and education and the coupling coordination degree were empirically analyzed. The results showed that the catch-up effect of population, economy and education urbanization in the central and western China was obvious, among which economic development was the first driving force for the promotion of population and education urbanization, and it was also positively related to the level of coupling coordination in the region. Therefore, in order to promote the high-quality development of urbanization, this study proposed that the optimization of internal structure should be dominated. While consolidating the existing pillar industries, eliminating the obstacles to urban and rural mobility and giving play to the key role of human capital.

Key words: population-economy-education urbanization, coupling coordination, spatio-temporal evolution