CNN reported that China’s wedding rate reduced a record in 2024, despite the government’s efforts to marry young people and encourage children.
According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, only 6.1 million couples recorded their marriages last year, declining 20.5 percent compared to 2023. This has been the lowest number of marriages recorded when the ministry began to monitor the data in 1986.
According to CNN, the decline in both marriage and birth presents a serious challenge to China, as it faces the effects of a shrinking workforce and an aging population, putting pressure on its economy. The number of marriages in 2024 is less than half of the 13 million registered in 2013, peak year for marriage in China.
The data released on Saturday led to a slight increase in the number of divorce in China. In 2024, about 2.6 million couples were filed for divorce, an increase of 28,000 compared to the previous year.
Since 2021, China has made a 30-day “cooling-off” period compulsory for couples filed for divorce, despite criticism that according to CNN, it is difficult for women to leave a broken or derogatory marriage. It is possible
Despite a slight increase in birth rate last year, China’s population has been shrinking for three consecutive years. The working-age population, defined as people between 16 and 59, declined by 6.83 million in 2024, which contributes to the overall fall. Meanwhile, the number of people aged 60 and above has increased, now 22 percent of the total population.
Chinese authorities believe that the decline in marriage is directly linked to the falling birth rate of the country, where social norms and government rules are challenging to have children for unmarried couples.
To address these issues, the government has taken a variety of measures, including financial incentives and awareness campaigns to encourage young people to marry and have children.
Officials have also organized blind dating programs, and collective weddings, and have tried to reduce the tradition of paying a large “bride price” to their future wife’s family from the groom, which for many poor men in rural areas Married to marriage.
Some local governments have also entrusted cash incentives to get married for young couples.
Since 2022, China’s Family Planning Association has launched programs to create “new-era marriage and delivery culture”, “Dozens of cities to promote” social values of delivery “and to marry and youth to marry and Nomination of dozens of cities to encourage “appropriate” to give birth. “
But so far, these policies have failed to convince Chinese young adults who are struggling with strong social welfare support between high unemployment, rising costs and economic recession.
