New data shows China is on track for its lowest rate of new marriages in history, as young adults prioritize personal and career goals over starting families. Rising living costs, intense work pressures, and changing cultural attitudes are leading many to delay or avoid marriage. For some, financial independence and pursuing higher education take precedence, which has shifted traditional expectations around marriage and family life.
This decline in marriage rates is raising alarms for the Chinese government, which is already concerned about declining birth rates and an aging population. Fewer marriages often lead to fewer births, impacting the country’s demographic goals and potentially slowing economic growth. While officials have introduced measures to encourage marriage and childbirth, societal preferences are not easily changed by policy alone.
As young adults increasingly focus on individual well-being and career growth, the government faces the challenge of addressing economic and social factors that deter marriage. China’s response to this trend will shape its economic and social policies for years to come, as the nation seeks to balance tradition with a rapidly modernizing society.
