The number of new marriages recorded in China is set to reach a record low this year, according to official data released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The decline in marriages, along with a decrease in births, presents a significant challenge for Beijing as it grapples with a shrinking workforce and an aging population, which could impact the country's economy.
In the first three quarters of 2024, 4.74 million Chinese couples registered their marriages, marking a 16.6% decrease from the same period in the previous year. This downward trend aligns with predictions by Chinese demographic experts that marriages in 2024 will fall below the record low of 6.83 million set in 2022.
