China experienced a significant one-fifth drop in marriages last year, marking yet another challenge in its ongoing demographic crisis, YEPS News has gathered. Despite government efforts to boost birth rates, economic uncertainty continues to discourage young couples from tying the knot.
According to data released by the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs, only 6.1 million couples registered for marriage in 2024, a sharp decline from 7.7 million in the previous year. This 20.5% drop coincided with the country’s third consecutive year of overall population decline, reinforcing concerns about China’s rapidly aging society.
A Shrinking Population & Economic Implications
China, once the world’s most populous nation, was overtaken by India in 2023, as the country’s 1.4 billion citizens grow older. As of last year, nearly a quarter of the population was aged 60 or above, intensifying concerns over labor shortages and the sustainability of social welfare programs.
For decades, China’s vast workforce was a key engine of economic growth. However, as gathered by YEPS News, a declining marriage rate—alongside a shrinking younger population—could exacerbate long-term economic challenges, from labor shortages to increased pressure on pension systems and public healthcare.
Beijing’s Pro-Family Push Faces Hurdles
Despite a series of government-backed incentives—including subsidies and campaigns promoting family life—many young Chinese remain reluctant to marry. Experts point to rising living costs, especially in education and childcare, as well as an uncertain job market as major deterrents for those considering marriage and parenthood.
“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,” a user on Weibo, China’s microblogging platform, commented under a news post about the marriage decline.
Another user echoed a growing sentiment among young Chinese:
“This year I suddenly feel that being single is actually pretty good. There’s not so much pressure, and I earn and spend my own money.”
A Legacy of Population Policies
China’s shifting demographics have deep roots in past policies. In the 1980s, Beijing enforced the controversial one-child policy to curb overpopulation fears. Though the restriction ended in 2016, and couples were later allowed up to three children in 2021, the birth rate has continued its downward trajectory.
Now, with fewer marriages and declining birth rates, China faces mounting pressure to sustain its workforce and social safety nets. YEPS News has learned that, in response, Beijing announced in September a long-anticipated decision to gradually raise the retirement age—which, at 60, had been among the lowest globally.
As the world’s second-largest economy grapples with these demographic shifts, experts warn that reversing the trend will require more than financial incentives—it will demand a fundamental shift in societal expectations and economic conditions.