More Chinese leave the knot untied as marriage registrations drop

As marriage registrations in China continued to decline in the first quarter of the year, local governments have dangled cash rewards as high as 40,000 yuan (US$5,487) in front of young couples in a bid to rekindle the will to wed and stave off the worst of a demographic crisis.

In the first three months of 2025, 1.81 million couples registered for marriage, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said last week. This represents a decrease of 159,000 couples compared to the same period last year for an 8 per cent drop, with a simultaneous 10 per cent increase in the number of divorce registrations.

The bleak marriage figures, coupled with the country’s low birth rates and shrinking population, are worrying signs for an economy already facing considerable challenges.

Last year, China recorded the lowest number of new marriages since 1980; only 6.10 million couples in China tied the knot in 2024, down 20.5 per cent from 2023, according to the ministry.

To reverse or slow this trend, China has streamlined its marriage registration rules, allowing couples to register without returning to their place of household residency starting May 10. Applicants will no longer be required to present a household registration booklet, simplifying the process for those living far from their official hometowns.

While the reform is expected to help to some extent, its effect may be limited, said independent demographer He Yafu.

South China Morning Post