China Faces Severe Population Crisis, Decline in Marriage Rates, Government Aims to Increase Birth Rate—But Divorce Rate Continues to Rise

China Faces Severe Population Crisis, Decline in Marriage Rates, Government Aims to Increase Birth Rate—But Divorce Rate Continues to Rise

Last year, the number of marriages in China fell by a record 20%, marking the steepest decline in the country's history and raising further concerns about its shrinking population. Despite government initiatives to encourage young couples to marry and have children, the number of registered marriages dropped to 6.1 million, a significant decrease from 7.68 million in 2021.

This decline indicates a growing reluctance among young Chinese to embrace traditional family life. Experts point to the high costs of childcare and education as major deterrents to marriage and childbearing. Additionally, recent economic stagnation has complicated the situation, leaving many graduates struggling to secure stable employment and increasing job insecurity.

Even during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, marriage registrations only decreased by 12.2%, highlighting the depth of the current demographic challenge facing China.

Yi Fuxian, a demographer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, noted that last year's marriage numbers were less than half of the 13.47 million marriages in 2013. He warned, "If this trend continues, China's political and economic ambitions will be derailed by its demographic Achilles' heel."

For China, boosting interest in marriage and childbirth has become a critical issue. The country currently has a population of 1.4 billion, which is aging rapidly. The one-child policy, implemented between 1980 and 2015, and rapid urbanization have caused the birth rate to decline for decades. In the coming decade, about 300 million Chinese citizens—equivalent to the entire population of the United States—are expected to retire.

In response, the government has taken some measures, including encouraging universities and colleges to provide "love education" to promote positive views on marriage, love, fertility, and family life. In November, China's State Council also directed local governments to address the population crisis and spread respect for childbirth and marriage "at the right age."

2024 was the "Year of the Dragon" in the Chinese zodiac, and children born in this year are considered ambitious and fortunate. However, despite a slight increase in births, the country's population has declined for the third consecutive year.

Data also revealed that more than 2.6 million couples filed for divorce last year, a 1.1% increase compared to 2023.