Chinese Couples Embrace Marriage amid New Policies
Incentives encouraging Chinese couples to marry are showing promising results, offering a hopeful sign amid concerns over the nation's shrinking and aging population.
Marriage Registrations Rise in 2025
China experienced an 8.5% increase in marriage registrations during the first three quarters of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. This rise reflects the impact of recently introduced pro-marriage policies aiming to reverse demographic challenges.
- 5.15 million couples registered their marriage in the first nine months of 2025.
- The figure increased from 4.75 million during the same period last year.
Divorce Rates Also See a Slight Increase
The number of divorces rose marginally to 2.08 million in the first three quarters of 2025, compared to 1.97 million during the same timeframe in 2024.
Demographic Implications and Expert Views
Experts warn that despite the short-term boost, marriage numbers are expected to decline in the long term as the population of younger adults continues to shrink.
Traditionally, marriage rates in China correlate strongly with birth rates, as extramarital births remain socially stigmatized in many regions.
Projected Annual Marriage Growth
For the entire year of 2025, China is on track to register a year-on-year increase in marriages between 17.3%, estimating 6.52 to 7 million couples.
Author’s summary: Recent pro-marriage policies in China have led to a notable increase in marriage registrations in 2025, signaling positive demographic trends despite longer-term challenges.