Official data reveals that the number of Chinese couples getting married in the first half of this year has dropped to its lowest point since 2013, as more young people postpone weddings due to a sluggish economy and increasing living costs. The number of marriages in China is closely linked to the number of births, and this decline could frustrate policymakers who are struggling to increase the population, which has been shrinking for two consecutive years. According to the data on marriage registrations, a total of 3.43 million couples got married in the first six months of the year, a decrease of 498,000 compared to the same period last year. Marriage is considered a prerequisite for having children due to widespread incentives and policies, including the requirement for parents to present a marriage certificate to register their child and receive state benefits. Many young Chinese are choosing to remain single or delay marriage due to poor job prospects and concerns about the future, as the growth of the world's second-largest economy slows. Marriage rates have been declining in China since 2014. Although there was a slight increase in 2023 due to pent-up demand after the easing of pandemic restrictions, the rate this year is expected to drop to its lowest since 1980, according to demographic expert He Yafu in an interview with the Global Times. Reasons for the decline in marriage registrations include a decrease in the number of young people, a higher number of males in the marriageable population versus females, the high cost of marriage, and changing attitudes, He noted. "The long-term declining trend in China's birth rate will be difficult to fundamentally change unless substantial childbirth support policies are implemented in the future to address this challenge," He said. China's Civil Affairs University has announced a new undergraduate marriage program to develop marriage-related industries and culture, drawing criticism from social media users who questioned the need for such a course as marriage rates decline.