China’s rural areas have roughly 25 million unoccupied homes, a phenomenon partially attributable to the country’s migrant workforce, financial news outlet Jiemian reported Monday.

The lofty figure is based on a study published Sunday by the Rural Development Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, which sampled 140 rural villages in the country to estimate that, nationwide, 10.7% of homes are vacant in such areas. The occupancy issue, according to the study, stems in part from the long-term absence of migrant laborers, who leave their hometowns to pursue employment elsewhere.

The study said that government at all levels further increases rural vacancies by subsidizing urban home purchases for migrants and banning the private sale of rural homes. (Image: IC)