China’s Marriage Rate Surges After a Decade Slump, Registrations Up by 12.3%

Marriage rates in China have rebounded, marking the first positive turn in a decade.

According to the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs, on the 17th, the total number of marriage registrations in China last year was 7.68 million, an increase of 12.3% compared to the previous year (6.835 million).

The number of marriage registrations in China experienced a continuous decline for nine years since it recorded 13.469 million in 2013. In 2019, it fell below the “10 million pairs” for the first time, recording 9.273 million. It then plummeted to 8.143 million in 2020, 7.643 million in 2021, and 6.835 million in 2022.

Local experts analyzed that the increase in 2023 exceeded 10% as people postponed their weddings due to COVID-19. They also analyzed the active offline communication and interaction between men and women during COVID-19.

Some state-run media outlets have welcomed the rebound in the number of marriages, expressing positive prospects that it could increase the birth rate this year.

However, experts predicted that this rebound will likely be temporary without proactive policies aimed at increasing marriage and child-rearing intentions among young adults.

The ongoing decline in the population of marriageable individuals in China is compounding the situation. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, as of 2023, the population aged 16 to 59 stood at 864.81 million, reflecting a decrease of 10.75 million compared to the previous year.