Marriages in China plummet to historic 37-year low
By Bryan Ke
China saw a significant drop in the number of couples who registered their marriages in 2022, reaching an all-time low in almost four decades.
Key details: China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs noted on Friday that only 6.8 million couples had registered their marriages in 2022, down by around 10.5% from the previous year when approximately 7.63 million people registered their marriages.
This is reportedly the lowest number of couples who registered their unions in China since the country began releasing statistics to the public in 1985. Back in 2013, the country’s marriage rate notably peaked when over 13 million couples got married.
What caused it: The decision to marry later in life, as well as the country’s zero-COVID policy that made several areas across the country go on strict lockdowns, are potential causes.
Another probable cause is the country’s declining birthrate. Data released by the United Nations in 2021 shows an imbalance in genders, with over 10 million more men than women between the ages of 20 and 34 in China.
What measures are being taken: As a way to tackle the issues at hand, the Chinese government has lifted its one-child policy.
Some officials are also reportedly finding more ways to incentivize residents to get married and have children. Some past incentives include blind dating events hosted by the Communist Youth League and Chinese colleges giving students a week off to “fall in love.”
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