China Sees Record 20% Drop in Marriages Amid Population Crisis

Marriages in China fell by 20% last year, marking the steepest decline on record, despite concerted efforts by the government to encourage young couples to marry and start families to counter the country’s declining population.

The high cost of childcare and education has long deterred many from tying the knot or starting a family. The economic slowdown, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has also left university graduates struggling to find work and those employed facing uncertainty about their long-term prospects.

Last year, 6.1 million couples registered for marriage, a sharp decrease from the 7.68 million couples who tied the knot in 2022, according to data from the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

“Unprecedented! Even in 2020, due to Covid-19, marriages only decreased by 12.2%,” said Yi Fuxian, a demographer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He pointed out that the number of marriages last year was less than half the 13.47 million recorded in 2013.

If this trend persists, “China’s political and economic ambitions will be undermined by its demographic Achilles’ heel,” Yi warned.

China Sees Record 20% Drop in Marriages Amid Population Crisis

China, home to 1.4 billion people, has seen its population age rapidly, a challenge for the country’s future workforce and economic vitality. The country’s birth rate has fallen for decades, initially due to the one-child policy (1980-2015), but more recently due to the rising costs of living and urbanization. Projections suggest that nearly 300 million Chinese citizens will enter retirement in the next decade.

In response, the government has taken steps to promote marriage and childbirth, including introducing “love education” in universities and urging local governments to bolster pro-family policies. Last year, the government promoted childbearing, particularly emphasizing the significance of the Chinese zodiac’s Year of the Dragon, traditionally seen as auspicious.

Despite a small rise in births, China’s population shrank for the third consecutive year, with over 2.6 million couples filing for divorce in 2024, a 1.1% increase from the previous year.

For the analysis and updates, visit FXAN to stay informed on the latest news and insights. Also, follow us on Instagram.