Marriages in China dropped by 20% in 2024, marking the largest decline on record, despite efforts by authorities to encourage young couples to wed and have children.
The high cost of childcare and education, along with economic uncertainty, has contributed to the reluctance to marry and start families.
According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, 6.1 million couples registered for marriage last year, down from 7.68 million in 2023. “Unprecedented! Even in 2020, during COVID-19, marriages only decreased by 12.2%,” said Yi Fuxian, a demographer at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He noted that the figure is less than half the 13.47 million marriages recorded in 2013.
If this trend persists, China’s economic and political ambitions could be jeopardized by its demographic challenges, Yi added.
Aging Population and Government Response
China, the world’s second-most populous country, is aging rapidly due to the one-child policy (1980-2015) and rapid urbanization. An estimated 300 million Chinese - nearly the size of the U.S. population - are expected to retire in the coming decade.
Authorities have introduced various measures to reverse declining marriage and birth rates, including:
- “Love education” in colleges to promote positive attitudes towards marriage and family.
- Government initiatives to encourage childbearing and marriage at the “right age.”
Birthrate and Divorce Trends
Despite a slight rise in births in 2024—partly attributed to the Year of the Dragon, which is believed to bring fortune - the population declined for the third consecutive year.
Meanwhile, divorces increased by 1.1%, with 2.6 million couples filing for separation in 2024, reflecting further challenges in family stability.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's aircraft was nearly struck by a drone while departing Moldova on ...
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said on Wednesday they attacked two U.S. vessels and eight oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, calling the st...
Georgia’s International Maritime Forum has closed in Batumi with officials setting out investment targets, timelines and technical plans aime...
Four people were killed, including a child, in Ukrainian strikes on the Russian port city of Novorossiysk overnight, according to the governor of the Krasnodar region. Ukraine's drone forces commander, Robert Brovdi, said Russian military ships were destroyed in the attacks.
A TV channel was struck during a live broadcast on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as Russian strikes on Kyiv killed at least three people, the city's Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Meanwhile, drones hit civilian infrastructure in Russia's southwestern Saratov region.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly launched two ballistic missile attacks against a U.S. Navy warship over the past two days.
Wildfires have broken out in Türkiye’s Antalya province, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate as strong winds fuelled the flames.
Indonesia has reopened Jakarta's main airport and four others after volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau forced widespread flight cancellations, though fresh eruptions have kept authorities on alert.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's aircraft was nearly struck by a drone while departing Moldova on its way to Norway, according to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said on Wednesday they attacked two U.S. vessels and eight oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, calling the strikes a response to a U.S. attack on five Iranian tankers.
The United Nations has called for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan, warning that escalating drone warfare and attacks on civilian infrastructure are deepening the country's already devastating humanitarian crisis.
Climate leaders in Baku are calling for a shift from climate commitments to concrete action as day three of Baku Climate Action Week focuses on implementation, cooperation and measurable results.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has dissolved parliament and called a snap election for 25 October, as he seeks to extend his political influence by running for prime minister.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment