The Ministry of civilian Affairs (民政部) published the latest statistic showing that the number of registered fresh marriages in China in 2022 was 6,833 million, which is the lowest consequence since specified data began to be published in 1986.
Last year's consequence was a 50.7% decrease compared to the largest number of registered fresh marriages in 2013. It was a breakthrough year. Since then, the number of fresh registered marriages in China has started to decrease systematically.
The number of divorces in China has besides been decreasing in fresh years. In 2022 there were 2.10 million of them and 2.839 million of them in 2021.
This is the consequence of an enhanced divorce procedure introduced 2 years ago, which became a fresh element, among others, a mandatory 30-day period for considering a divorce decision by a individual seeking divorce. This is the time erstwhile the spouses are to effort a possible reconciliation, to hold mediation talks involving therapists. At least that's the theory.
The largest historical number of divorces occurred in 2019, erstwhile it formally splits 4.7 million couples.
It is alleged that the crucial origin affecting both the number of fresh marriages and divorces made was the period of the Covid-19 epidemic, which importantly disrupts the average social functioning of individuals. In China, social life disorders of varying degrees associated with the fight against the epidemic continued without a tiny 3 years. However, experts believe that the epidemic has had short-term effects. Demographic processes are much more crucial here, which have a much deeper impact on the number of marriages and divorces.
And so, the fact that the number of people aged 18 to 45 who are considered fit to form formal relationships falls all year is essential. In addition, the average age in which young people choose to marry is constantly increasing. In 2010, it was 25 years old, presently (2022) is 29 years old. In a situation where both trends persist, it is hard to presume that the current state of affairs will importantly improve.
The crucial imbalance between the number of young men and women cannot be ignored. According to the census of 2022, in the 18-29 age bracket, there were more than 35 million more than women. The imbalance in the natural proportions of the sexes has led to women ruling the “market” of marriages. This, in turn, requires a husband to meet excessive material expectations. The applicant must have an apartment, a good car, a decent education, thanks to which he got a good job, and thanks to which he could afford to “buy the bride” – we wrote about this customized HERE. In total, depending on the region of China, the amounts are counted in hundreds of thousands and even millions of yuan.
Many young men simply cannot afford marriage, which is peculiarly noticeable in tiny towns and villages.
In fresh years, the Chinese authorities have taken many initiatives to tackle these conventional barriers. But although the first signs of change (especially in large cities) are emerging, crucial results will should be expected. Changing conventional attitudes, habits, is not easy.
An interesting side effect is the expanding number of women, educated and well-earned, who choose to live alone. They are addressed with a fresh policy of government giving single motherhood (even resulting from in vitro fertilization) rights equal to motherhood in a formal relation (which until late clashed with the ideological function and expression of the household in Chinese society).
The subject of discussion and investigation in China has become the "economics of marriage", which includes the cost of matrimony specified as:
- ‘price’ for the bride,
- buying an apartment,
- buying a car,
- birth of a kid (often full paid any medical services related to childbirth and childbirth)
- child education,
- raising a child.
Researchers and experts point to another worrying phenomenon, which is the decline of the population and the decreasing number of birthdays.
Last year, the Chinese population fell by almost 850 000, and fertility rates fell to the lowest historically lowest level of 6.77 .
In the evidence year 1987 this rate was 23,33.
Consequently, the authorities abolished the ban on the registration of children from outside marriage.
In 2016, China abolished the policy of 1 kid (a program launched in 1978 in the face of a demographic boom and a real threat of hunger) and introduced the anticipation of having 2 children. Since 2021, 3 children are already available in large Chinese cities.
Demographic processes, however, are slow processes. Nothing happens here abruptly (beyond catastrophes specified as large wars or natural disasters involving large areas of countries). In China, there is besides a full scope of economic, historical, social, civilizational and cultural conditions, which hold the effect of the introduced pro-family and pro-pro-creative solutions.
Paradoxically, China's biggest problem present – in terms of the number of married couples and their fertility – is their dynamic economical development, social welfare. China faces these challenges that many developed countries are trying to tackle.
All you gotta do here is mention to examples of Japan, South Korea or Poland.
All of these countries are launching measures to encourage matrimony to increase birth rates – but so far with limited success.
It takes a year to change the economy, a generation for demographic change.
Source:
Author: 梁安基 Andrzej Z. Liang, 上海 Shanghai, 中国 China
Email: [email protected]
Editorial: Leszek B.
Email: [email protected]
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