China’s marriage rate has reached an all-time low, with only 6.1 million couples tying the knot in 2024, down 20.5% from last year. This marks the lowest number of new marriages since 1980, according to official data.
The decline is attributed to a range of factors, including China’s chronically low birth rate and increasing trend among young people to delay marriage and parenthood due to social and economic pressures. Despite government efforts to encourage couples to have more children, China’s population is expected to continue shrinking, posing long-term policy challenges for the country.
The number of divorces increased by 1.1% in 2024 to 2.82 million, despite the fall in marriage registrations. Experts believe that the birth rate will continue to decline in 2025, with demographer He Yafu stating that the sharp decline in marriage registrations is a clear indicator of this trend.
China’s demographic crisis is being compounded by its low birth rate, which is linked to declining numbers of women of childbearing age and societal trends favouring delayed marriage. The country faces significant challenges in addressing these issues, including a shrinking workforce and rapidly ageing society.
Source: https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3298038/chinas-population-woes-deepen-marriage-registrations-plummet-lowest-level-1980