Rate of marriages in China lowest since record keeping began in 1986, with cost of living and pushback against traditional gender roles contributing factors

Summary

China’s marriage rate hit a record low in 2024, with only 6.1 million marriages, a 20% drop from 2023 and the lowest since records began in 1986.

Rising costs, youth unemployment, changing gender roles, and a growing preference for single life contribute to the trend. Government incentives to boost marriage and birth rates have largely failed.

Social attitudes are shifting, with less family pressure to marry, skepticism over restrictive divorce laws, and calls for same-sex marriage recognition.

Experts warn this decline could accelerate China’s demographic and economic challenges.

  • oce 🐆@jlai.luEnglish
    52·
    9 days ago

    It’s not overpopulation that is the problem, it’s overconsumption of natural resources. Population will not grow indefinitely, see the notion of demographic transition. It would possible to live sustainably with the estimated population peak if we respect consumptions quotas such as the 2 tones of CO2 per year per capita. Most developed country people are far above this though.

    • Miaou@jlai.luEnglish
      2·
      9 days ago

      Or we could have fewer people with higher living standards, humanity does not get extra points for maintaining a high body count.

      • oce 🐆@jlai.luEnglish
        1·
        9 days ago

        The living standard doesn’t have to be proportional to natural resources consumption. For example, many people would rather live in a walkable 20 min city than needing a car and getting stuck for hours in traffic.