Data on marriage registrations shows that China had a total of 3.43 million married couples in the first six months of 2024, a decrease of 498,000 couples compared to the same period last year.
The number of marriages in China is closely linked to the number of children born, and this decline could be frustrating for policymakers who are trying to boost a population that has been declining for years.
In China, marriage is considered a prerequisite for having children because the policy requires parents to present a marriage certificate to register their children and receive state benefits.
Couples prepare to have their wedding photos taken on the streets of Shanghai, China. Photo: Reuters
Many young Chinese people are choosing to remain single or postpone marriage due to poor job prospects and anxieties about the future as the world's second-largest economy slows down.
Marriage rates in China have been declining since 2014. While there was a slight increase in 2023 as pandemic restrictions eased amid pent-up demand, rates this year are expected to fall to their lowest level since 1980, according to demographer He Yafu.
He stated that the reasons for the decline in marriage registrations include a decrease in the number of young people, a higher number of men of marriageable age than women, high marriage costs, and changing attitudes towards marriage.
"In the long term, the declining birth rate trend in China is unlikely to fundamentally reverse unless significant fertility support policies are implemented in the future to address the challenge," he said.
Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/so-cap-ket-hon-o-trung-quoc-giam-xuong-muc-thap-nhat-trong-12-nam-post306427.html
