A couple poses with their marriage certificate during a photo shooting session on a snowy day in Beijing, China. – Reuters file
China, which has been implementing a series of measures to support its declining population, saw a decrease in marriage registrations for the first nine months of 2024, according to official data from the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The data revealed that 4.747 million couples were registered nationwide during the first three quarters of the year, representing a year-on-year decrease of 943,000, as calculated by Reuters. The government released these latest figures on Friday.
In 2023, 5.690 million marriage registrations were recorded for the first nine months, marking an increase from 2022. However, growing economic uncertainty and rising living costs across the country have led many young couples to postpone marriage, which is a concerning trend for policymakers aiming to boost a shrinking population.
China recently amended a draft law to simplify marriage registration while making divorce procedures more stringent. For the first three quarters of 2024, 1.967 million divorces were registered, showing a slight year-over-year decrease of 6,000, according to the data.
Earlier this year, China reported its second consecutive annual drop in nationwide births, prompting the government to launch projects and initiatives in major cities to encourage young Chinese to develop a 'new-era' marriage and childbearing culture, fostering a supportive environment for childbearing. The topics of marriage and childbearing have become hotly debated among young Chinese, spawning extensive discussions and trending topics on social media.
Many young Chinese are choosing to remain single or delay marriage due to uncertain job prospects and concerns about the future, as the world's second-largest economy experiences slower growth. Chinese President Xi Jinping has also weighed in, emphasizing the critical role of women in establishing a 'new trend of family'.
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