China is experiencing a decline in marriage rates, with an estimated 6 million couples expected to marry this year, the lowest since 1980. To counter this trend, local governments are offering cash incentives. In Luliang city, couples marrying for the first time will receive a 1,500 yuan reward. These efforts aim to boost marriage and birth rates, addressing challenges like economic growth and population decline. Further initiatives include subsidies and policies to encourage childbirth.
China is gearing up to record its lowest number of marriage registrations since 1980, with estimations hinting at around 6 million couples tying the knot this year. This decline has prompted local governments to take innovative steps, including offering cash incentives, to encourage marriage.
The Ministry of Civil Affairs reported that in the initial nine months of this year, 4.75 million couples registered their marriages, marking a 16.6% decrease compared to the same period in 2023. The third quarter alone saw only 1.32 million marriages registered, a drop of over 25% from the previous year, marking the lowest quarterly figure since 2008.
Demographer He Yafu's estimate suggests that China might witness between 6.01 million to 6.59 million marriage registrations by the year-end, underscoring a downward trend from previous years. This shift comes at a time when China is grappling with low marriage and birth rates, alongside an overall population decline, posing significant challenges to economic growth and long-term stability in the labor market.
In response to this demographic challenge, Luliang city in Shanxi province has joined the efforts by introducing cash rewards to promote marriage. Starting next year, couples registering their first marriage in Luliang will receive a 1,500 yuan (US$211) cash reward, provided the bride is 35 years old or younger. This move, though symbolic in value, is aimed at incentivizing young people to consider marriage.
He, an independent demographer, emphasized the importance of boosting the marriage rate to address China's declining birth rate. The local government in Luliang has not only incentivized marriage but also introduced measures to encourage childbirth, offering subsidies ranging from 1,000 yuan for families with one child to 8,000 yuan for those with three children.
Compared to Western countries where a significant percentage of births occur outside marriage, China maintains more conservative societal norms, with the majority of children born within wedlock. Despite challenges, efforts to reverse the declining marriage and birth rates are ongoing, with various governmental initiatives such as cash subsidies, extended parental leave, and housing incentives being introduced.
While these policies aim to address the demographic decline, some argue that deeper issues like high living costs, inadequate childcare support, and gender inequality need to be tackled for a more sustainable impact. The journey to revitalize marriage and childbirth rates in China continues, with a blend of incentives and broader societal changes being key to shaping the demographic landscape positively.
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