BEIJING (AFP) – China last year saw a one-fifth decline in marriages, the latest sign of demographic challenges as Beijing works to encourage births despite an uncertain economic outlook for young families.
The country saw 6.1 million couples register for marriage in 2024, down from 7.7 million the previous year, according to data published by the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
The 20.5 per cent drop coincided with the third consecutive year of overall population decline in China, which in 2023 was surpassed by India as the world’s most populous nation.
China’s population of 1.4 billion is now rapidly ageing, with nearly a quarter of people aged 60 or above as of the end of last year.
The demographic trends present fresh challenges for authorities in the country, which has long relied on its vast workforce as a driver of economic growth.
