China's Population Woes: Marriages hit historic low, birth rates plummet, divorces rise

Chinese authorities have introduced various measures, including organising mass weddings and blind dating events to curb the declining marriage rates. (Image: AFP file photo)

The number of marriages in China fell by a staggering 20.5 percent in 2024, marking the lowest recorded level since the government began publishing statistics in 1986. The sharp decline, reported by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, highlights deepening demographic challenges despite Beijing’s ongoing efforts to boost marriage and birth rates.

According to the data released on Saturday, only 6.1 million couples registered their marriages last year, a significant drop from 7.7 million in 2023. The decline coincides with China’s third consecutive year of population shrinkage, following its loss of the title as the world’s most populous nation to India in 2023.

The steady drop in marriage rates, which began in 2013 when registrations peaked at 13 million, poses a serious challenge to China’s economy. With a shrinking workforce and an aging population, concerns over economic stability and social welfare burdens are growing. In 2024 alone, the working-age population (16-59 years old) declined by 6.83 million, while those aged 60 and above now constitute 22 percent of the total population.

Despite a slight increase in birth rates last year, China’s overall population continues to decline, intensifying fears of long-term economic repercussions. According to experts, fewer marriages will likely lead to even lower birth rates in the coming years.

While fewer people are getting married, divorce rates have seen a slight uptick. Nearly 2.6 million couples filed for divorce in 2024, an increase of 28,000 from the previous year.

Since 2021, China has enforced a mandatory 30-day “cooling-off” period for divorces, aimed at reducing impulsive separations. However, critics argue that the policy disproportionately affects women, making it harder for them to leave troubled or abusive marriages.

In response to declining marriage rates, Chinese authorities have introduced various measures, including:

>> Organising mass weddings and blind dating events.
>> Cracking down on expensive “bride price” customs that discourage marriage in rural areas.
>> Offering financial incentives to newlyweds in some regions.
>> Promoting a “new-era marriage and childbearing culture” through government-backed campaigns.

Since 2022, the Family Planning Association has actively worked to shift public attitudes toward marriage and parenthood, enrolling dozens of cities in initiatives designed to encourage family formation.

Despite these efforts, young Chinese adults remain hesitant to marry, citing financial instability, job insecurity, and shifting social values. High unemployment rates, rising living costs, and inadequate social welfare have led many to delay or forgo marriage altogether.

Women, in particular, are rethinking traditional gender roles. Many cite workplace discrimination and societal expectations that they take on the bulk of childcare and household responsibilities as key reasons for avoiding marriage. A viral comment on Chinese social media platform Weibo captured the sentiment: “Life is so exhausting. How could there be the courage to get married?”

As per experts, cited in a CNN report, China’s decades-long population control policies, including the one-child policy (abolished in 2016), have contributed to the current demographic crisis. While Beijing lifted birth limits to two children in 2015 and three children in 2021, the efforts have failed to reverse declining marriage and birth rates.

The drop in marriages could have severe economic consequences, adding pressure on China’s pension system and public healthcare infrastructure. In a long-anticipated move, Beijing announced in September that it would gradually raise the country’s statutory retirement age—currently set at 60, one of the lowest in the world—to address labor shortages.

As young people increasingly delay or opt out of marriage and parenthood, China faces mounting pressure to address its demographic challenges before they further strain the nation’s economy and social stability. Whether government incentives will succeed in reversing this trend remains uncertain, as evolving societal norms continue to reshape attitudes toward marriage and family life.