The Number of Marriages in China Declines by 25% Compared to the Same Period Last Year; "Four-Not Youths" Resist the Authorities’ Urging for Marriage and Childbearing

Graduation equals unemployment; where can we go when we see no future? (Reposted from Weibo)

[People News] In the context of economic recession, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) government has continually introduced "fancy birth-promotion" policies to address the early arrival of population aging and the sharp decline in labor force. However, according to the latest data released by CCP officials, the younger generation is not buying into it. The number of marriages in the first three quarters of this year has decreased by 25% compared to the same period last year. Experts believe that young people striving to become the "last generation" and "Four-Not Youths" is one of the consequences brought by China's economic recession and high unemployment rate.

Marriage Rate Expected to Hit a New Low in 2024

According to a report by Radio Free Asia, based on the latest data from the CCP Ministry of Civil Affairs, there were 4.747 million couples registered to marry in the first three quarters of 2024, compared to 5.69 million couples in the first three quarters of last year. This year, there are 943,000 fewer newly married couples compared to the same period last year. In fact, as early as the first half of this year, China’s marriage registration numbers hit a new low in recent years, with only 3.43 million couples registered.

Looking back at data from the CCP Ministry of Civil Affairs, the overall trend of marriage registration in recent years has been declining, with only a brief stop and increase in 2023. In 2013, the number of marriage registrations in China was 13.469 million couples, starting to decrease year by year in 2014, dropping below 10 million couples in 2019, and below 8 million in 2021. In 2022, it fell to 6.835 million, breaking the 7 million mark, and only in 2023 did it rebound to 7.68 million couples. It is expected that 2024 will have the lowest number of marriage registrations since 1980, with the marriage rate hitting a new low.

This topic has sparked heated discussions on Chinese social media and overseas Chinese communities. Some internet users within the Great Firewall even said, "There are still too many people getting married." Some overseas users wrote, "'We are the last generation' is indeed deafeningly loud. It’s unique in the world to see the leeks cut to this extent"; "The oxen and horses don’t marry and reproduce, and the farm owner is frantic"; "Let’s be the Four-Not Youths" and so on.

As early as 2022, under the impact of the pandemic, China’s marriage rate dropped to its lowest in 37 years. The term "Four-Not Youth" began trending online in March 2023, which includes not dating, not marrying, not buying property, and not having children.

Young Netizens: Not Getting Married Reflects Disappointment in Chinese Society as a Whole

A young netizen, Mr. Qi, who did not want his full name disclosed, told Radio Free Asia that he and many of his peers choose not to marry, either due to economic reasons or general disappointment with Chinese society.

Mr. Qi said, "Some of my friends just don’t want to get married, and some can’t afford to. Many of us don’t even have jobs, with all sorts of unemployment, and society is full of hostility. We have no sense of security or happiness, nor do we have any expectations for the future. Now we are just lying flat, so why get married?"

Mr. Qi also mentioned that many young people are actually "passively resisting" the CCP government by not marrying. He said, "Another thing is that the government used to say having one child is good, but now they’re pushing marriage and childbirth in all sorts of ways. What have we become? Is our country really the so-called Animal Farm? So we’re resentful in our hearts and passively resist by not marrying or having children."

Commentary: High Unemployment Rates Make Young People See No Hope, Could Turn Into Active Resistance Against Authorities

Huangfu Jing, a member of the Australian Values Alliance and current affairs commentator, told Radio Free Asia that it’s estimated that the CCP authorities are also very worried about the low marriage and birth rates among young people. Therefore, they are continuously using "fancy" methods to urge marriage and childbirth. However, when the high unemployment rate caused by economic decline makes young people see no hope, these policies are ineffective.

Huangfu Jing said, "There are a lot of young people without jobs now. Relying on parents can only last for a period. In another 10 or 20 years, when they can no longer depend on them, what will they do? The vast majority of young people now see no hope. At this time, asking them to have three children—who will support them?"

Huangfu Jing also said that young people shouting "We are the last generation" is already a form of protest, which may evolve into active resistance against the authorities.

Huangfu Jing said, "Xi Jinping has led the country to this point. The economy has reached this state, and there aren’t enough leeks, and they’re getting fewer and fewer. During the pandemic, young people in Shanghai said, ‘We are the last generation.’ The declining birth rate will be a major trend in the future, and I believe it will cause a very large impact, leading to waves of incidents. If this continues, it will definitely cause turmoil in this country."

As early as October 2023, Xi Jinping said in his speech at the opening ceremony of the 13th National Congress of Chinese Women that CCP officials have a responsibility to "strengthen the guidance of young people's views on marriage, childbirth, and family," and to "actively cultivate a new marriage and childbirth culture."

In August this year, the CCP Ministry of Civil Affairs issued the "Marriage Registration Regulations (Draft for Public Comments)" and publicly solicited opinions, in which marriage registration no longer requires household registration books and allows cross-province registration to promote the marriage rate.

Recently, the State Council of the CCP further issued a "pro-birth document," not only strengthening support for birth services, improving the childcare system, and using housing and other measures to stimulate birth rates, but also advocating for marriage and childbirth views to be integrated into primary, secondary, and higher education.