Down 1.1‰ Points from Last Year
Highest Number of Marriages Among Ages 25 to 29
Last year, the number of marriages in China stood at 6.106 million couples, marking a 20.5% decrease compared to the previous year and setting a record low.
On July 31, state-run China Central Television (CCTV) and other outlets reported that, according to the "2024 Statistical Bulletin on the Development of Civil Affairs" released by the Chinese government, the marriage rate in China last year was 4.3‰ (per mille), the lowest ever recorded. This figure represents a decline of 1.1‰ points from the previous year and is the lowest since 1978, a span of 45 years.
According to the report, a total of 6.106 million couples legally registered their marriages last year, a 20.5% decrease from the previous year. By age group, the highest number of marriages was among those aged 25 to 29, with 4.288 million couples. This was followed by those aged 30 to 34 (2.609 million), those aged 40 and above (2.282 million), those aged 20 to 24 (1.635 million), and those aged 34 to 39 (1.397 million).
In response to the continued decline in both marriage numbers and birth rates, Chinese authorities have introduced various policies, including simplifying marriage registration procedures and regulating caili (traditional betrothal gifts). In Nanling Village, Guangzhou, a marriage incentive of 40,000 yuan is provided, while Luliang City in Shanxi offers 1,500 yuan. However, the number of newborns also continued to decline last year. In 2024, the number of newborns was 9.02 million, the lowest since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. As a result, China's total population in 2023 was 1.40967 billion, a decrease of 2.08 million compared to the end of 2022. It is projected that the population will fall below 1.4 billion by 2035.
Over the past few years, factors such as ongoing economic slowdown, unstable employment, soaring housing prices, and the high cost of children's education have been cited as reasons why the younger generation is hesitant to marry and have children. According to the "2024 China Urban Family Development Report" released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the average cost of getting married and starting a family is 2.7 million yuan (approximately 52.03 million won). For young people whose average monthly income is less than 10,000 yuan (about 1.92 million won), this is an astronomical figure. The gender ratio is also a concern. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, there are about 34 million more men than women of marriageable age (22 to 40 years old) in China. This issue is particularly severe in rural areas.
Meanwhile, China recently announced that it would provide child-rearing allowances for children under the age of three. Despite being the first child allowance system led by the central government, public response has been lukewarm. The amount of the allowance, 10,800 yuan (about 2.1 million won) over three years, is considered far too low. There are calls for the child allowance to be better linked with other policies, such as maternity leave, childcare subsidies, and housing support, to create a more comprehensive support system for marriage and childbirth. Some have also suggested diversifying the support system by region, integrating livelihood policies and services, and providing financial support.
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