BEIJING: 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. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
