The number of new marriages in China dropped in 2022 to its lowest level since record-keeping began, continuing a decline over the past decade, according to local media. Data published on the Ministry of Civil Affairs' website showed that the number of marriages completed reached only 6.83 million last year, down by about 800,000 from the previous year, following COVID-19 restrictions.
China's population also declined in 2022 for the first time in six decades, which is expected to mark the beginning of a long-term decrease in the number of its citizens, with profound implications for its economy and the world.
The birth rate in China fell last year to 6.77 births per thousand people, the lowest recorded, down from 7.52 in 2021. Population scientists warn about the aging population in China before it becomes a wealthy country, as the workforce shrinks and local governments burdened with debt increase spending on elderly care.
In an effort to encourage marriage and raise the declining birth rate in the country, China announced last month that it would launch experimental projects in over 20 cities to create a "new era" culture for marriage and childbirth. Some regions have also decided to grant newly married young couples an extension of paid marriage leave.
