In recent years, the Chinese government has taken various measures to encourage young people to get married and have children in order to mitigate the decline in population. However, official data shows that in 2024, the number of registered marriages in China decreased by over 20%, marking the largest drop in history.
Analysts believe that the downward trend in the Chinese economy has caused significant economic pressure on young people, leading them to hesitate about marriage. Additionally, the pandemic has taken away many eligible marriage candidates, further impacting marriage rates. Furthermore, the decline in moral values has weakened young people’s sense of family, making them more inclined to live single lives and avoid taking on the responsibilities of marriage.
According to data released by the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs on the 8th, the number of registered marriages in 2024 across the country was 6.106 million couples, a decrease of 1.574 million couples compared to 2023, representing a 20.5% drop. Compared to the peak of 13 million marriages in 2013, the number of marriages in 2024 was less than half, hitting a new low in 45 years.
Reports from The Paper highlighted that recent civil statistics data for the fourth quarter of 2024 released by the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs indicate a continued decline in the willingness of Chinese people to marry.
On Sunday (9th), a popular discussion appeared on the Chinese social media platform Weibo in response to the news of historically low marriage rates. Some netizens expressed sentiments like, “Life is so tough, who has the courage to get married? Sigh!” and “Without parents’ support, it’s impossible to afford a house, marriage is a big expense,” and “Earn your own money, spend it yourself, save a little, definitely happier than after marriage.”
Mr. Qin, who works in Shenzhen, told a media outlet that he considers himself part of the working class and has been struggling financially for years. Building a house costs a fortune, wiping out his savings. He believes that marriage and material possessions are extraneous. Being single provides the freedom to pursue personal goals and live differently.
Regarding the record low marriage rate in China, Tang Jingyuan, a commentator on current affairs based in the United States, stated that the primary reason is closely related to the severe economic downturn in Chinese society. Especially with the outbreak of the pandemic at the end of 2019, the economic impact on China was significant. The worse the economy, the lower the number of marriage applications, following a direct proportional relationship.
After reaching a record-high unemployment rate of 21.3% among young people aged 16 to 24 in urban areas in China in June 2024, the National Bureau of Statistics of the Communist Party of China announced in August that they would no longer release this data.
Huang Qinglong, Chairman of the Taiwan Citizen Cross-Strait Research Association, noted that China is currently facing a serious economic decline, with a very high youth unemployment rate. Additionally, the one-child policy implemented in the past resulted in a large number of only children, fostering a more self-centered national character. Encouraging these individuals, who have grown up accustomed to being pampered, to marry is a significant challenge.
Tang Jingyuan also mentioned that alongside the economic downturn in China, being trapped in real estate investments and changes in various social welfare measures, including government policies, have increased the cost of…