This paper examines the progressive process of population citizenization in China according to the availability of urban basic public services and relevant policy changes, which is differentiated by rigid constraint before 1978, target control between 1978 and 2000, policy guidance between 2000 and 2010, and government leading and promoting since 2010. While the reform of the national household registration system and the full implementation of the residence permit system provide guarantee for speeding up the citizenization process, local or mass practice is crucial to the effectiveness of population citizenization. The major factors affecting population citizenization come from city, countryside, farmers (migrant workers) and management system, which are generally influenced by cost of living, job opportunities, housing costs, living habits, and educational quality. Unified city-countryside system, effective urban and rural push-pull mechanism and assimilation of urban environment are policy priorities for orderly and progressively promoting population citizenization.