Marriage Rates in China Plunge by 20% in 2024, Raising Alarm Over Birthrate Decline

China's marriage rate hits 40-year low in 2024

The number of marriages in China saw an unprecedented decline last year, dropping by 20%—the steepest fall ever recorded—despite government initiatives aimed at encouraging young couples to marry and start families to counteract the nation’s shrinking population.

Experts attribute the waning interest in marriage and childbearing to soaring childcare and education costs. Additionally, sluggish economic growth has made it increasingly challenging for university graduates to secure stable employment, leaving many hesitant about long-term financial security.

Official data from the Ministry of Civil Affairs revealed that just over 6.1 million couples tied the knot in 2024, a sharp decline from 7.68 million the previous year.

"Unprecedented! Even in 2020, when COVID-19 disrupted life worldwide, the decline in marriages was only 12.2%," said Yi Fuxian, a demographer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

He highlighted that last year's marriage registrations were less than half of the 13.47 million recorded in 2013.

If this downward trajectory continues, "the Chinese government's political and economic ambitions will be ruined by its demographic Achilles' heel," he warned.

Government's Push to Revive Marriage and Birthrates

Addressing the decline in marriage and childbirth has become an urgent priority for Chinese policymakers.

Despite being the world's second-most populous nation with 1.4 billion people, China faces rapid population aging. The steep birthrate decline stems from decades of restrictive policies, including the one-child rule in place from 1980 to 2015, as well as increasing urbanization. Over the next ten years, nearly 300 million Chinese citizens—equivalent to the population of the United States—are expected to enter retirement.

In an attempt to counteract this crisis, authorities last year urged universities and colleges to introduce "love education" programs that promote positive attitudes toward marriage, relationships, and family life.

Additionally, in November, the State Council instructed local governments to allocate resources toward reversing the population crisis and fostering respect for marriage and childbearing "at the right age."

There was a slight uptick in births last year, attributed to the end of pandemic-related uncertainties and the influence of the Chinese zodiac. Since 2024 was the Year of the Dragon—a symbol of ambition and prosperity—many families chose to have children during this period.

However, despite this modest rise in births, China’s total population still declined for the third consecutive year.

Meanwhile, divorce rates in the country edged up, with 2.6 million couples officially separating in 2024—a 1.1% increase from the previous year.