Recent research has revealed that the number of newlyweds in China has soared for the first time in nine years, with 7.68 million new weddings reported in 2023, up 12.4% from the previous year, according to the report. . bbc reported.
In an effort to reach record birth rates, the Chinese government has been promoting marriage through campaigns that have resulted in 845,000 more marriages than in 2022, according to a recent report from the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
The controversial one-child policy imposed by the government in the 1980s has led to the country seeing declining birth rates. However, policy changes were introduced in 2015 and 2021 to try to increase population numbers.
In addition, China's Premier Li Qiang has pledged to promote a “pro-natal society” and “long-term balanced population development.”
The state planner has also committed to improving policies to boost birth rates by reducing the costs of childbirth, parenting, education and improving parental leave policies.
China's population fell for the second consecutive year in 2023 with record birth and death rates at a record low due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The number of couples filing for divorce in 2023 increased, with 2.59 million couples registering for uncontested divorces. The Ministry of Civil Affairs has not yet published the number of contested divorces.
Meanwhile, authorities face challenges due to a rapidly aging population, with 300 million Chinese expected to retire in the next decade.
Other major Asian countries have also been addressing falling birth rates and aging populations.
South Korea has the lowest birth rate in the world and Japan recorded a record low of 800,000 births in 2022. Meanwhile, Hong Kong recently announced a donation of HK$20,000 for every newborn to combat its low birth rate .
