Marriage rate tumbles despite efforts

China recorded a more than 20 percent drop in marriage registrations last year, despite a slight rebound in the previous year, following a decadelong decline. Experts say the downward trend may be irreversible and are calling for more supportive policies to boost young people's confidence in marriage.

Figures recently released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs show that about 6.1 million marriages were registered in 2024, down 20.5 percent from 7.68 million in 2023. Meanwhile, the number of divorces rose 1.1 percent year-on-year to 2.62 million.

Marriage registrations in China have steadily declined since 2014, reaching 6.84 million in 2022 before a modest increase in 2023.

Zhao Xiaolin, 31, an after-sales service engineer in Beijing, said finding a partner for marriage has become increasingly difficult, especially in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai.

"Women here have strong careers and good incomes, often on par with men. Many are unwilling to take on the potential risks of marriage," Zhao said.

He recalled dating a woman in July last year who was reluctant to discuss marriage, fearing it could hurt her career advancement. He also cited the traditional expectation of owning a home before marriage as a major financial burden.

Lin Shiyi, a 28-year-old from Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, said her parents have pressured her to marry, but she refuses to settle.

"It takes courage to step into marriage. I won't marry someone mediocre just because of family pressure," she said.

Experts say shifting outlook toward marriage, an unbalanced sex ratio and the trend of delaying first marriages are key factors driving the decline in registrations. They also warn that fewer marriages will affect China's future birthrate.

According to the country's seventh population census in 2020, China had 723.34 million men and 688.44 million women. The average age of people entering their first marriage was 28.67 in 2020, an increase of 3.78 years from 2010.

"The financial burden of high housing prices, education costs and a competitive job market have made young people uncertain about their future, heightening fears about marriage and childbirth," said Jiang Quanbao, a professor at the Institute for Population and Development Studies at Xi'an Jiaotong University in Shaanxi province.

Jiang said many young people, especially women, delay marriage in pursuit of higher education and financial independence.

"Women may have greater concerns, both physical and psychological, about marriage. They still shoulder more responsibility for housework and child care," he said, adding that rising divorce rates have also discouraged singles from committing to marriage.

Jiang noted that China's marriage-age population — typically those between 20 and 40 — is shrinking, making the decline in marriages unlikely to reverse. He urged the government to introduce more housing, education and employment policies to restore confidence in marriage.

According to financial news outlet Yicai, China has about 220 million people born after 1980, 208.5 million born after 1990 and 162.6 million born after 2000, citing official data.

Jiang suggested authorities create a more supportive environment for marriage by promoting family values and improving matchmaking services. He also called for stricter regulation of excessive bride prices and financial support for housing, child care and education to encourage young couples to marry.