Marriages in China declined by 20% last year, despite government efforts to encourage young couples to wed and have children in response to the country’s shrinking population.
According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, only 6.1 million couples registered for marriage in 2023, a sharp drop from 7.68 million the previous year.
The reluctance to marry and start families has been largely attributed to the high costs of childcare and education. Additionally, slow economic growth has made job opportunities scarce for university graduates, while those who are employed often feel uncertain about their financial future.
For Chinese authorities, reversing this trend is a priority. With a population of 1.4 billion—the world’s second-largest—China is aging rapidly. The country’s birth rate has been in decline for decades due to the one-child policy (which lasted from 1980 to 2015) and rapid urbanization. In the next decade, around 300 million people—nearly equivalent to the U.S. population—are expected to retire.
In response, the government has implemented various measures to promote marriage and childbearing. Last year, colleges and universities were urged to offer “love education” courses to foster positive attitudes toward marriage, relationships, and family life. In November, China’s State Council directed local governments to allocate resources to address the population crisis and promote marriage and childbearing at an appropriate age.
While births saw a slight increase in 2023—partly due to a post-pandemic rebound and the auspicious Chinese zodiac Year of the Dragon—China’s overall population declined for the third consecutive year.
Meanwhile, divorce rates inched up, with 2.6 million couples filing for divorce last year, marking a 1.1% increase from 2023.
The declining marriage rate, coupled with a shrinking birth rate, poses long-term economic and social challenges for China. An aging population puts pressure on the workforce, pension system, and healthcare services, raising concerns about the country’s future economic growth and sustainability.
To counteract this demographic decline, authorities have introduced various incentives, such as offering financial subsidies, tax breaks, and extended maternity and paternity leave. Some provinces have also launched matchmaking initiatives and social events to encourage young people to find partners. However, these measures have had limited success in reversing the trend.
Younger generations, especially women, are increasingly prioritizing career advancement, personal independence, and financial stability over marriage and motherhood. Many are also hesitant to enter traditional family structures due to concerns over gender roles, work-life balance, and the burden of caregiving responsibilities.
The real estate crisis and rising living costs have further dampened enthusiasm for settling down. In major cities, the high cost of housing and childcare has made it difficult for young couples to consider marriage, let alone having children. Many cite financial insecurity as a major deterrent to starting a family.
Experts suggest that more comprehensive reforms are needed to create a family-friendly society, including improvements in work-life balance, affordable childcare, and equal career opportunities for women. Without significant policy changes, China’s population decline is expected to continue, potentially leading to labor shortages and slower economic growth in the coming decades.
Despite the government’s push to promote marriage and childbirth, societal attitudes are shifting, and many young Chinese remain skeptical about traditional family expectations. Whether future policies can effectively reverse these trends remains uncertain.
