Starting from May 10th, the newly revised “Marriage Registration Regulations” of the Chinese Communist Party are officially implemented, and marriage and divorce will no longer require household registration! This policy adjustment quickly became a hot topic and sparked discussions among netizens, who see it as a means to promote marriage among young people.
The revised “Marriage Registration Regulations” have removed the requirement to provide a household registration book during the marriage registration process. Neither marriage nor divorce registration will require the presentation of a household registration book anymore.
However, applicants for marriage registration are required to present their resident identity card, a signed declaration that they are not married to anyone else, and that there are no direct blood relatives or second-degree blood relatives within three generations between them and their partner.
Individuals with the following circumstances are not allowed to register for marriage: those who have not reached the legal age for marriage, couples who are not completely voluntary, individuals who are already married, and those who are direct blood relatives or second-degree blood relatives within three generations.
Moreover, residents applying for divorce registration must present their resident identity card and their marriage certificate. For voluntary divorces, both parties must sign a written divorce agreement and jointly apply for divorce registration at the marriage registration office.
Chinese netizens have been discussing this development:
“This is encouraging young people to get married! Just bring your ID card and you’re good to go.”
“It’s easier to get a marriage or divorce certificate than a bank card.”
“I suggest online marriages, with automatic marriage registration upon successful facial recognition!”
“This is hilarious. Just get married through facial recognition.”
“While other certificates require tests, why is there no test for this certificate, and not even a household registration book is needed? What kind of certificate is this?”
“This is making marriage and divorce more convenient, so divorce rates are likely to rise again.”
“There are pros and cons to this, but it can prevent those demanding exorbitant dowries and save those with tragic destinies, giving them a chance to escape from their original families! However, the divorce rate is definitely going to increase.”
According to the data from the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the Chinese Communist Party, the number of divorces registered nationwide in 2024 rose to 2.621 million pairs, an increase of 1.1% compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, the number of marriages registered was 6.106 million pairs, a decrease of 20.5% from 2023, marking the largest drop since records began in 1978; compared to 2013, it dropped by more than half.
To encourage young people to get married and have children, various local governments in China have introduced policies to incentivize marriage and childbirth. For instance, in Lvliang City, Shanxi Province, newlyweds are given a cash subsidy of 1,500 RMB, and families eligible for having one, two, or three children under the policy receive subsidies of 2,000 RMB, 5,000 RMB, and 8,000 RMB respectively.
Many Chinese netizens believe that compared to the cost of living, this subsidy is too meager. Some mockingly say, “This is just giving alms,” and for young people under pressure to marry, it’s just a drop in the bucket.
Scholar Li Yuanhua, who is studying in Australia, previously analyzed with Epoch Times that the main reasons Chinese young people are increasingly unwilling to marry include weak consumption leading to high youth unemployment, a decrease in the number of suitable marriage partners, excessively high marriage costs, especially the escalating cost of raising children, causing young people to hesitate to marry. The significant drop in marriage rates will further drag down China’s birth rate.