China Sees Increase in Marriage Rates for the First Time in Nine Years
China
Sees Increase in Marriage Rates for the First Time in Nine Years:
In 2023,
China experienced a notable surge in the number of couples opting for
marriage, marking the first rise in marriage rates in almost a decade. Data
from the Ministry of Civil Affairs revealed that 7.68 million couples tied the
knot, reflecting a 12.4% increase compared to the previous year. This equates
to an additional 845,000 marriages in 2023 compared to 2022.
Historical
Context:
China has
witnessed a prolonged decline in marriage rates over nearly ten years, with the
highest recorded number of marriages, 13.47 million, occurring in 2013.
Concerns over population growth prompted the government to implement various
policies aimed at encouraging couples to have more children.
Government
Initiatives:
The uptick
in marriage rates coincides with increased government efforts to promote
marriage and bolster birth rates, which have dwindled to record lows. Premier
Li Qiang recently pledged to foster a "birth-friendly
society" and support balanced population growth. Additionally, plans
were announced to refine policies aimed at reducing the financial burdens
associated with childbirth, parenting, and education, along with improvements
to parental leave policies.
Factors
Affecting Marriage Rates:
Several
factors have contributed to the decline in marriage rates over the past decade.
Economic slowdowns have led many individuals to delay or opt out of marriage
altogether. Moreover, concerns among young women regarding property laws that
appear to favor male ownership have added to hesitancy about marriage.
Divorce
Rates:
Despite the
rise in marriages, there has also been an increase in the number of couples
seeking uncontested divorces. In 2023, 2.59 million couples registered for
uncontested divorces. Data on contested divorces has not yet been released by
the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
Aging
Population:
China is
grappling with the challenge of a rapidly aging population, with approximately
300 million citizens expected to retire within the next ten years. This
demographic change is comparable to almost the entire population of the United
States. As marriage rates are closely linked to birth rates, policymakers hope
that the recent increase in marriages could lead to more births.
One-Child
Policy and Its Impact:
China's
population growth concerns date back to the introduction of the one-child
policy in the 1980s, aimed at curbing overpopulation. However, the policy has
since contributed to declining birth rates. The government eased the policy in
2015 to allow couples to have two children, with further relaxations introduced
in 2021, permitting up to three children.
Regional
Comparisons:
China is not
alone in addressing declining birth rates and an aging population. Other major
Asian economies, such as South Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong, face similar
challenges. South Korea has the world's lowest birth rate, with its population
expected to halve by 2100. Japan recorded a record-low 800,000 births in 2022,
while Hong Kong introduced incentives for newborns to combat low birth rates.
Key Exam
Facts:
The
one-child policy was introduced in the 1980s to control China's population
growth, preventing an estimated 400 million births during its implementation.
In 2022,
China's population declined for the first time in six decades, with deaths
outnumbering births.
In China, the term "sheng nu," translating to "leftover women," refers to educated, professional women who remain unmarried into their late 20s and beyond.
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