CPPCC Member Proposes Lowering Legal Marriage Age to 18; Netizens: "Completely Insane"

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

[People News] As China’s annual "Two Sessions" meetings approach, a proposal by Chen Songxi, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has sparked widespread criticism. Chen suggests lowering the legal marriage age from 22 for men and 20 for women to a uniform 18 years old, a proposal that many citizens have condemned as "crazy."

According to Radio Free Asia, data from the Ministry of Civil Affairs of China shows that in 2024, there were 6.106 million registered marriages and 2.621 million divorces nationwide. Compared to the previous year, the number of marriages decreased by 1.574 million pairs, a decline of about 20.5%, while divorces increased by 28,000 pairs, rising 1.1%. The trend of people choosing not to marry in China is becoming increasingly apparent.

A report from 21st Century Business Herald states that one of Chen Songxi’s proposals for this year’s Two Sessions is "On Relaxing Birth Restrictions and Establishing a Marriage and Childbirth Incentive System." He argues that lowering the legal marriage age to 18 would increase the base population for childbirth and unleash fertility potential. Chen also claims that China's current legal marriage age—22 for men and 20 for women—is a remnant of the one-child policy era and that China has one of the highest legal marriage ages in the world, as most countries set it at 18 or below.

Chen further suggests introducing stronger and more diverse incentives nationwide, particularly in rural areas. These could include monthly cash subsidies for each child and extended medical support until a certain age. While such policies may have limited success in urban areas, he believes they could be more effective in rural regions.

Additionally, Chen proposes renaming the "Population and Family Planning Law" to the "Population and Birth Law" and fully lifting birth restrictions to better align with China’s current demographic challenges. This follows the 2021 amendment, which allows couples to have up to three children.

"18-Year-Olds Are Still in School"—Netizens Strongly Oppose the Proposal

Despite Chen's arguments, the proposal has faced overwhelming backlash from the public. On Weibo, Chinese netizens have flooded the platform with criticism: "This is completely insane! Many 18-year-olds are still in school. This would create opportunities for criminals!" "How are they supposed to raise a child when they haven’t even started earning? Are their parents supposed to take care of everything?" "Every new proposal is crazier than the last! First, the divorce cooling-off period, then allowing marriage with just an ID card, and now lowering the marriage age to 18?!"

According to Voice of America, China's economic downturn has led to salary cuts, layoffs, and job shortages, leaving many young people without the financial means—or even the desire—to get married. Even after marriage, couples face immense financial pressure as they must support not only their children but also both sets of parents. Moreover, gender inequality remains a persistent issue in Chinese society. Exorbitant bride prices, homeownership requirements as a prerequisite for marriage, and other distorted customs have further discouraged young people from getting married.