The impact of rural population aging on farmland abandonment is a dynamic process.This paper uses data from the China Labor Dynamics Survey （CLDS） in 2014，2016 and 2018 to study the effects of the proportion of the population aged 65 and above and the proportion aged 45 to 64 on farmland abandonment.The results show that a higher proportion of the population aged 65 and above increases the likelihood of farmland abandonment， while a higher proportion of the 45 to 64 age group reduces the incidence of farmland abandonment. Mechanism analysis reveals that population aging inhibits land abandonment through the accumulation of farming experience.However，due to the poorer health conditions among the elderly and their lower likelihood of utilizing agricultural machinery，population aging also promotes farmland abandonment.The findings of this study suggest that during the process of aging，as the agricultural population over the age of 65 withdraws from farming，the probability of farmland abandonment declines.However，during the intergenerational transition，the reduced likelihood of younger laborers engaging in agricultural work leads to an increase in farmland abandonment.Consequently，the incidence of farmland abandonment is expected to initially decline and then rise.Based on these findings，policy recommendations include strengthening the cultivation of new agricultural management entities，implementing subsidies for agricultural machinery，and promoting agricultural production trusteeship services.