Marriages in China drop to historic low in 2022: 10.5% decrease from previous year, lowest number since 1986

This is the lowest number of marriages since 1986.

The decline in marriages comes amid a declining birth rate and a falling population.

China's birth rate fell to 6.77 births per 1,000 people in 2021, the lowest on record, while the country's death rate was 7.37 deaths per 1,000 people, the highest since 1974.

The country's population also shrank in 2022 for the first time in over 60 years due to rising living costs, weak economic growth, and changing attitudes towards raising a family.

The decline in the number of younger people is partially a result of China's one-child policy, which was in place from the 1980s to 2016.

Officials are trying to boost the nation's birth rate and have launched pilot projects and policies to promote fertility.

Some provinces are also giving young newlyweds an extension of paid marriage leave.