As local news reported, the number of marriages in China plummeted in 2022, hitting its lowest point since record-keeping began. This decline, which has been ongoing for the past ten years, was possibly influenced by the rigorous Covid lockdown measures in effect during the past year.
According to data posted on the Ministry of Civil Affairs website, marriage registrations were completed by only 6.83 million couples last year, marking an approximate decrease of 800,000 compared to the previous year.
This decline in matrimony, which coincided with pandemic restrictions that confined tens of millions to their homes or residences for extended periods, has occurred alongside a falling birth rate and decreasing population.
In 2022, China’s population experienced its first decline in six decades, a trend predicted to signal the onset of a long-term decrease in its citizen numbers. This shift has substantial implications for China’s economy and the global landscape.
Last year, China’s birth rate dropped to its lowest recorded level, falling from 7.52 births per 1,000 people in 2021 to just 6.77. Demographers have warned that China is facing an aging population before it achieves wealth, with a shrinking workforce and local governments burdened by debt facing increased spending on the elderly.
To incentivize marriage and invigorate the country’s dwindling birth rate, China announced plans last month to initiate pilot projects in over 20 cities to foster a “new-era” culture of marriage and childbearing.
Moreover, some provinces are extending paid marriage leave for young newlyweds in an effort to support these initiatives.
