China’s Marriage Registrations Drop by Over 1.5 Million in a Year, Shocking Netizens

Qixi Festival Spending Plummets, Marriage Registrations Drop Sharply (Getty Images)

Peopel News - According to the latest official data from the Chinese government, the number of marriage registrations last year dropped again to 6.1 million couples, a 20% decline from 2023. The decrease of more than 1.5 million couples in one year has shocked netizens. The topic quickly became a trending topic on Weibo, and many are exploring reasons beyond economic difficulties that may be causing young Chinese people to avoid marriage.

According to Radio Free Asia, the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs released various statistics last Saturday (February 8), highlighting marriage registration numbers as a focal point. The data shows that 6.106 million couples registered for marriage nationwide in 2024, a decrease of 1.574 million from the 7.68 million couples in 2023, representing a 20.5% drop. In contrast, the number of divorce registrations increased to 2.621 million couples, up from 2.593 million in 2023, an increase of 28,000 couples or 1.1%.

The figures have sparked widespread attention and discussion among state media and netizens. The Paper reported that last year’s decline in marriage registrations marks a reversal following a temporary stabilization in 2023. In 2013, over 13 million couples registered for marriage, meaning China has seen a decrease of more than 7 million couples over the past decade. After the news broke, it became a trending topic on Weibo, with many netizens expressing shock over the 20% annual decline, attributing it primarily to economic downturns.

Emily, a Chinese international student, told the outlet that economic issues are the main reason young people are unwilling or unable to get married. She mentioned that one of her friends, who had planned to marry last year, had to cancel the wedding due to financial constraints.

Emily explained: “Economic conditions are definitely the primary issue. Everyone is focused on self-preservation. It’s already challenging enough to have a job and maintain a good standard of living. Under these conditions, marriage becomes a huge financial burden. Weddings typically cost six figures, and with the economic downturn, families have less to contribute. I have a friend from Shanghai who was engaged to someone from Wenzhou last year, but the families couldn’t agree on the financial terms for the wedding banquet, so the engagement fell apart.”

Increased Difficulty in Divorce Makes Women More Cautious About Marriage

Emily also pointed out that the Chinese authorities’ recent proposal to revise the Marriage Law—including the introduction of a 30-day “cooling-off” period and rules allowing either party to unilaterally cancel a divorce—has deterred many Chinese women from getting married.

“Many women have told me that the 30-day cooling-off period is terrifying. If a man is abusive, those 30 days could be fatal. The CCP policymakers want to address declining birth rates by making it harder to divorce and encouraging childbirth, but how is that possible? These policies don’t protect women’s rights at all. With divorce becoming such a trap, women are now more hesitant and see marriage in a much more negative light.”

Education Devaluation Leads to Delayed Marriage

Jerry, a Chinese university student, explained that the reasons men avoid marriage differ somewhat from those of women. He mentioned that difficulty finding jobs and the financial pressures of supporting multiple family members make men reluctant to marry. Additionally, the devaluation of educational degrees in China plays a role.

“Many people don’t get married because of the economic downturn and the devaluation of degrees. In the past, a university degree was enough to get a job. Now, many graduates need to pursue a master’s degree, or even a doctorate, just to improve their job prospects. In the past few years, I’ve seen many people return to school for a master’s degree after failing to find a job for a year. This process can take up to 10 years. Economic stability is the foundation of marriage, and without a steady income, marriage isn’t a consideration during this period of schooling.”

“We Are the Last Generation” Sparks Reflection Among Young Chinese

Jerry, a young university student in China, said that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the values of the 20-something generation in China. It has led many to rethink not only their desire for a freer lifestyle but also whether marriage is necessary at all.

Jerry explained: “Young Chinese people generally have a negative perception of society. During the pandemic, someone said, ‘We are the last generation.’ A lot of people around me were deeply moved by this statement. It really influenced how young people in China view marriage and childbirth. They began to question: Why should we bring children into a world where they will experience the same social injustices? People often say that if you lie flat, even the scythe of society can’t cut you down.”

Severe Anxiety About the Future Amid Economic Crisis

Shen, a young Chinese social media commentator, noted that the economic crisis is one of the main reasons behind the sharp drop in marriage registrations within a year. This reflects widespread dissatisfaction among the younger generation over social injustices and the concentration of resources within the system. Combined with job insecurity and anxiety about the future, this has led many young people to avoid marriage—a trend that could have a severe impact on China’s economy.

Shen stated: “The biggest issue is this pervasive sense of insecurity. Everyone is lying flat—opting out of having a next generation or refusing to get married. For the government and China’s economy, this is a vicious cycle. Poor economic conditions make people avoid marriage and children. Without children, consumption drops, further worsening the economy. This is a critical issue for today’s Chinese economy.”

Marriage and Fertility Decline as a Social Illness Leading to Other Problems

Political commentator Wang Jian believes that the sharp decline in marriage registrations reflects a deep-seated pessimism in Chinese society and will inevitably lead to more social issues.

Wang stated: “The drop in marriage numbers is clearly a result of social and economic instability. The economic crisis leads to a social crisis. One aspect of this social crisis is the widespread loss of hope for the future—why get married in such a pessimistic atmosphere? It’s a social illness. With only around 6 million marriage registrations, the number of births will certainly be even lower. This is the result of a vicious cycle affecting the entire society.”

Wang pointed out that economic and social issues are closely intertwined. The decline in marriage and birth rates will have a direct impact on industries related to child-rearing, such as baby formula and strollers. He warned that these industries may soon face existential crises.