Marriages in China fell by 20% to an all-time low in 2024, as young people resisted government initiatives aimed at encouraging them to marry and have more children. According to data from China’s civil affairs ministry, the number of marriages dropped from 7.7 million in 2023 to 6.1 million last year, marking less than half the number recorded in 2013 and the lowest since record-keeping began in 1986. Additionally, 2.6 million couples filed for divorce in 2024, a 1.1% increase from the previous year.
The significant decline in marriages followed a brief rebound in 2023, when many couples caught up on weddings after years of COVID-19 restrictions. There was also speculation that some avoided marriage in 2024 due to it being considered an inauspicious “widow year” in the Chinese lunar calendar. However, the overarching trend reflects a persistent resistance to the ruling Communist Party’s efforts to address China’s demographic challenges.
“It’s not that people don’t want to get married, but that they can’t afford to!” remarked a commenter from Changzhou on social media, where the topic has garnered over 46 million discussions since Monday. China, with the world’s second-largest population, previously enforced strict birth control measures, including a one-child policy. Now, facing a declining and aging population that threatens economic stability, the government is urging citizens to marry and have more children.
Marriage is closely tied to childbirth in China, where traditional values and government regulations discourage having children outside of marriage. However, decades of restrictions have resulted in fewer individuals of marriageable age, and those who are available often show little interest in marriage or parenthood.
“For many young people, choosing not to marry is a conscious decision. Enjoying their own lifestyle and single life is also a significant factor,” another Weibo commenter noted. “Women can support themselves and do not need to rely on men, leading to a decreased desire for marriage compared to the past.”
Concerns about high youth unemployment, rising living costs, education expenses, and childcare, along with a shift away from traditional gender roles, have persisted despite the government’s financial incentives and policy changes.
“The declining marriage rates reflect a combination of social factors: a shrinking population of young adults, a bleak economic outlook for new graduates, evolving attitudes towards marriage, and increasing gender polarization,” stated Carl Minzner, a senior fellow for China studies at the Council for Foreign Relations, who described the drop in marriages as “extreme.” Commenters on social media also observed a growing societal tolerance, noting a shift in the pressure families exert on individuals regarding marriage.
