In 2024, China has experienced a significant 20% drop in marriages, marking another troubling sign of the country’s ongoing demographic struggles.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs reported that 6.1 million couples registered for marriage last year, down from 7.7 million in 2023.
This sharp decline coincided with China’s third consecutive year of population decline, following its loss of status as the world’s most populous nation to India in 2023.
As China’s population of 1.4 billion ages rapidly, with nearly a quarter of the population now aged 60 or older, the nation faces growing challenges in sustaining economic growth driven by its large workforce.
Despite Beijing’s efforts to encourage childbirth through pro-family policies, subsidies, and campaigns, factors such as high living costs—particularly for education and childcare—and a challenging job market for young graduates have made marriage and starting families increasingly unaffordable for many.
One Weibo user commented on the pressures of modern life, saying, “If I don’t rely on my parents, I simply can’t afford to buy a house, and getting married is also a huge expense. This year, I suddenly feel that being single is pretty good. There’s not so much pressure. I earn and spend my own money.”
China’s demographic shift is compounded by the legacy of its one-child policy, which was enforced from the 1980s until 2016.
The policy was relaxed in 2021, allowing for up to three children per family, but signs of demographic stagnation had already begun to show. The decline in marriages threatens to place additional strain on the country’s pension system and public healthcare services.
To address the aging population, Beijing has announced plans to gradually raise the statutory retirement age, which is currently among the lowest in the world at 60.
