Number of marriages in China falls to 12-year low

Marriage registration data shows that China had a total of 3.43 million married couples in the first six months of 2024, down 498,000 from the same period last year.

The number of marriages in China is closely linked to the number of children born, and the decline could frustrate policymakers trying to boost a population that has been falling for years.

In China, marriage is considered a prerequisite to having children because policy requires parents to present a marriage certificate to register their children and receive state benefits.

Couples prepare to take wedding photos on the street in Shanghai, China. Photo: Reuters

Many young Chinese are choosing to stay single or delay marriage because of poor job prospects and worries about the future as the world's second-largest economy slows.

China's marriage rate has been falling since 2014. Despite a slight increase in 2023 as pandemic restrictions are eased in response to pent-up demand, this year's rate is expected to fall to its lowest level since 1980, according to demography expert He Yafu.

Reasons for the decline in marriage registrations include a decline in the number of young people, a higher number of men of marriageable age than women, high costs of marriage and changing attitudes towards marriage, he said.

"In the long term, the trend of declining birth rates in China will be difficult to fundamentally change unless significant pro-natalist policies are implemented in the future to address the challenge," he said.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/so-cap-ket-hon-o-trung-quoc-giam-xuong-muc-thap-nhat-trong-12-nam-post306427.html