Rate of marriages in China lowest since record keeping began in 1986, with cost of living and pushback against traditional gender roles contributing factors

Summary

China’s marriage rate hit a record low in 2024, with only 6.1 million marriages, a 20% drop from 2023 and the lowest since records began in 1986.

Rising costs, youth unemployment, changing gender roles, and a growing preference for single life contribute to the trend. Government incentives to boost marriage and birth rates have largely failed.

Social attitudes are shifting, with less family pressure to marry, skepticism over restrictive divorce laws, and calls for same-sex marriage recognition.

Experts warn this decline could accelerate China’s demographic and economic challenges.

  • magnetosphere@fedia.io
    13·
    1 day ago

    Births are tightly linked to marriage in China, with childbearing out of wedlock discouraged by traditional values and various government regulations.

    “Various government regulations”? Damn, dude. Like what? Maybe easing up on those regulations would help the birth rate a bit.