CHINA recorded a more than 20% drop in marriage registrations last year, despite a slight rebound in the previous year, following a decade-long decline. The downward trend may be irreversible and researchers are calling for more supportive policies to boost young people’s confidence in marriage. Figures recently released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs show that about 6.1 million marriages were registered in 2024, down 20.5% from 7.68 million in 2023. Meanwhile, the number of divorces rose 1.1% year-on-year to 2.62 million. Marriage registrations in China have steadily declined since 2014, hitting 6.84 million in 2022 before rebounding slightly in 2023. Researchers say shifting outlook toward marriage, an unbalanced sex ratio and the trend of delaying first marriages are key factors driving the decline in registrations. They also warn that fewer marriages will further dent China’s future birthrate. According to the country’s seventh population census in 2020, China had 723.34 million men and 688.44 million women. The average age of people entering their first marriage was 28.67 in 2020, an increase of 3.78 years from 2010. “The financial burden of high housing prices, education costs and a competitive job market have made young people uncertain about their future, heightening fears about marriage and childrearing,” said Jiang Quanbao, a professor at the Institute for Population and Development Studies at Xi’an Jiaotong University in Shaanxi Province. Jiang said many young people, especially women, delay marriage in pursuit of higher education and financial independence. “Women may have greater concerns about marriage, because they shoulder more responsibility for housework and child care,” he said, adding that rising divorce rates have also discouraged singles from committing to marriage. China’s marriage-age population — typically those between 20 and 40 — is shrinking, making the decline in marriages unlikely to reverse. China has about 220 million people born after 1980, 208.5 million born after 1990 and 162.6 million born after 2000, according to official data. Jiang suggested authorities create a more supportive environment for marriage by promoting family values and improving matchmaking services. He also called for financial support for housing, child care and education to encourage marriage and childbirth. (SD-Agencies) | 