China is on track to record its lowest number of new marriages in history, with just 4.74 million couples registering in the first nine months of 2024 — a 16.6% drop from last year. This ongoing decline in both marriages and births presents significant challenges for Beijing, which is grappling with an aging population, a shrinking workforce, and slowing economic growth.
In response, China has rolled out numerous incentives, from financial support to community dating events and campaigns promoting marriage and childbearing. Traditional norms, economic pressures, and changing attitudes toward marriage and family are key reasons fewer young adults are getting married or having children. High unemployment, rising living costs, and limited social support make it challenging for many to start families, while workplace discrimination and patriarchal expectations dissuade women from marriage.
A 2021 policy mandating a 30-day “cooling-off” period for divorce has seen modest impact on divorce rates but is criticized for potentially trapping women in troubled marriages. Although similar measures are being trialed in other East Asian nations, including Japan and South Korea, success remains limited. The issue highlights a growing generational shift across Asia as young people prioritize stability and independence over traditional family structures.
