China's Weddings Decline as Young People Reject Marriage

In the first three quarters of 2024, China experienced a significant decline in marriage registrations, with approximately 4.74 million couples registering, a 16.6% drop from 5.69 million in the same period the previous year. This trend follows a continual decrease in marriages since the peak in 2013 when over 13 million marriages were recorded annually, and it aligns with expert forecasts suggesting even lower figures than the record low observed in 2022. The fall in marriages also correlates with a reduced birth rate, which hit its lowest point since 1949 in 2023, following two years of population shrinkage. Economic uncertainty and rising living costs are major factors contributing to this decline, as many young adults are delaying marriage and parenthood, pressured by social norms that complicate childbearing outside of marriage. The shift reflects changing attitudes, particularly among educated young women, who are increasingly financially independent and disillusioned with the traditional institution of marriage. In response, China’s government has attempted to promote marriage through campaigns and street slogans; however, critics view these efforts as ineffective and disconnected from the realities young people face.