China has reported a significant drop in marriage registrations for the first nine months of 2024, reflecting the country’s ongoing demographic challenges. Data from the Ministry of Civil Affairs show that 4.747 million couples registered their marriages during this period—a decline of 943,000 from the same time last year, according to Reuters calculations.
In 2023, marriage registrations had seen an uptick, with 5.690 million couples marrying in the first nine months, compared to 2022. However, mounting economic uncertainties and rising living costs are leading more young Chinese couples to postpone marriage, presenting concerns for lawmakers working to address the nation’s declining population.
In response, China recently revised laws to simplify marriage registration while making divorces more difficult to process. So far in 2024, there have been 1.967 million divorces, down slightly by 6,000 year-over-year.
China’s shrinking birth rate has also prompted initiatives across major cities to foster a “new-era” marriage and childbearing culture. Marriage and childbearing have become hot topics on social media among young Chinese, with many expressing concerns about job prospects and the country’s slowing economy.
President Xi Jinping has addressed this issue, emphasizing the vital role of women in creating a “new trend of family.”
