Young Generation's Views on Marriage Differ Greatly from Older Generations
Birth Rate Declines Despite Government Incentives
[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seung-woo] Recent surveys have revealed that young people in China no longer consider marriage an essential part of life.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 5th, a report jointly released last month by various organizations including the China Family Planning Association and China Youth Network stated that Chinese university students hold different views on marriage and childbirth compared to older generations.
The report explained, "For both men and women, building a career before marriage has become an important principle. Most university students do not even consider divorce shameful," adding, "Government birth promotion policies have had little impact on young people's decisions to marry. University students view marriage as a way to improve their quality of life both mentally and materially, so they place great importance on emotional foundations and job stability."
It also pointed out, "While the rate of cohabitation without marriage has increased, the acceptance of children born out of wedlock remains low, which is another threat fueling low birth rates." The report continued, "Policy makers need to ease the conflict between young people's desire to start families and their career paths," emphasizing, "Particular attention should be paid to the needs and perspectives of women."
In 2021, the number of first-time marriages in China was 11.578 million, marking the first time in 36 years since 1985 that the figure fell below 12 million. Consequently, the birth rate also declined, reaching its lowest point since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 last year. China implemented the one-child policy from the 1980s, fully allowed two children in 2016, and introduced a three-child policy for each family in May 2021. However, as living and education costs rose, the avoidance of marriage and childbirth intensified, and despite various incentives, the birth rate continued to decline.
In fact, only 8% of university students who participated in the survey said that incentives such as cash support influenced their childbirth plans. Most university students preferred that the government focus more on employment support rather than childbirth assistance.
As the population rapidly decreases, China has introduced policies allowing unmarried individuals to register their children’s births and receive benefits equal to those of married couples. In Sichuan Province, the fifth most populous region in China, from the 15th of this month, unmarried individuals will be able to register their children with the local government, with no limit on the number of registered children.
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