The hukou system in China has often been compared to apartheid due to its role in creating and maintaining social and economic divisions within the country. Here are some key points that highlight this comparison:

1. Segregation and Inequality: Much like apartheid, the hukou system enforces a form of segregation by categorizing citizens into rural and urban residents. This classification significantly affects individuals' access to resources, social services, and opportunities. Urban hukou holders typically have better access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities compared to their rural counterparts.

2. Restricted Mobility: The hukou system restricts the movement of people within China. Rural residents moving to urban areas for work often face difficulties in obtaining an urban hukou, which limits their access to public services and social benefits in the cities. This is similar to how apartheid laws restricted the movement of non-white South Africans.

3. Economic Disparities: The system perpetuates economic disparities between rural and urban populations. Rural residents often work in low-paying jobs with little job security and lack the social safety nets available to urban residents. This economic divide is reminiscent of the economic inequalities enforced by apartheid policies.

4. Social Stratification: The hukou system contributes to a rigid social hierarchy, where one's place of birth can determine their social status and opportunities in life. This stratification is akin to the racial hierarchy imposed by apartheid.

5. Reform Efforts: Despite reforms aimed at relaxing the hukou system, significant disparities remain. The system continues to be a barrier to social mobility for many rural migrants, similar to how apartheid's legacy has continued to affect South African society.

These aspects of the hukou system have led to its comparison with apartheid, as both systems institutionalize inequality and limit the rights and opportunities of certain groups within the population.