In recent years, the number of “empty-nest youth” in mainland China has been increasing. These are young people who are not getting married, not having children, and have been labeled as the “despair generation.” According to the latest data from the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs, the number of registered marriages in China in the first quarter of this year was less than 2 million couples, showing a significant drop of 8.3%. Experts analyze that the reluctance of young people to get married reflects the failure of China’s economic development strategies and policies.
The statistics released by the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs on June 14, 2024, showed that there were 1.969 million registered marriages in China in the first quarter of the year, compared to 2.147 million couples in the same period in 2023, a decrease of 178,000 couples, representing an 8.3% decline.
Data shows that the number of registered marriages in China reached 13.47 million in 2013, but has been decreasing for nine consecutive years since then. By 2022, the number had dropped to 6.835 million, only about half of the 2013 figure. From 2019 to 2023, the number of marriage registrations has been below 10 million for five consecutive years.
Ji Feng, a leader of the 1989 Guizhou student movement and an artist, mentioned that many of his friends’ children, who are in their thirties, have chosen not to marry. He shared that even a woman in her forties, the eldest child, remains single. Another friend, born in 1981, now 43 years old, also remains unmarried.
Ji Feng’s niece and nephew, both around 25 years old, are at a suitable age for marriage. He noted that in his generation, people were already married by the age of 25, but now his niece and nephew, having graduated from college, show no interest in marriage or starting a family.
In recent years, economic hardships have led to a wave of layoffs in companies, resulting in a soaring unemployment rate. The pressure to merely survive has deterred a significant portion of young people from considering marriage.
Jacey Zhang, a 27-year-old youth from Beijing, expressed to Voice of America that the cost of marriage, including considerations like buying a house and future planning, is a significant factor for him. Without a job currently, he sees no possibility of marrying or having children due to financial constraints.
Many young graduates, including those with postgraduate degrees, are finding it challenging to secure employment, particularly in smaller cities and towns where job opportunities are scarce. This economic insecurity has led to a reluctance among young people to enter into marriage.
A financial expert and freelancer, Mr. Zhang, emphasized that the soaring housing prices are a primary obstacle deterring young people from marrying, attributing this issue to the Chinese government’s economic policies that prioritize real estate development.
The exorbitant cost of homeownership, combined with high living expenses, has made it difficult for young people to afford housing in urban areas, where property prices remain prohibitively high.
Mr. Zhang critiqued the Chinese authorities for fostering this situation through exploitative economic policies that have impeded the younger generation’s pursuit of happiness and financial stability.
The rising divorce rates have also instilled fear in some young people concerning marriage, as they witness the challenges and failures faced by previous generations. Data from the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs reveals that there were 573,000 divorces registered in China in the first quarter of 2024.
Lawyer Li from mainland China believes that the economic development model enforced by the Chinese government has left many citizens impoverished and laden with debts. The poor economic conditions have eroded the quality of life and happiness for young people, deterring them from marriage and starting families.
The economic pressures and societal burdens inherited from previous generations have disillusioned many young people from entering into marriage. The prevailing economic model in China has stifled the aspirations and possibilities of happiness for the younger generation.
The long-lasting effects of a low marriage rate will result in significant demographic shifts, cultural disruptions, and a declining workforce, contributing to further economic downturns.
According to the “China Population and Employment Statistics Yearbook 2023,” the unmarried rate among 25-29-year-olds in urban areas was 56.9% in 2022, with 30-34-year-olds at 20%, and a striking 30.7% unmarried rate among 30-year-olds in cities. In rural areas, the unmarried rate among 25-29-year-olds stood at 47.4%.
Ji Feng believes that the Chinese government’s attempts to reverse this trend have been futile, as young people are losing hope and despairing due to the challenging circumstances they face.
Mr. Zhang is pessimistic about finding immediate solutions to China’s low marriage and birth rates, criticizing the authoritarian rule and misguided economic policies of the Chinese government, which have hindered income growth for the lower-income population.
In essence, the economic development approach adopted by the Chinese government has obstructed young people’s dreams and aspirations for happiness, hampering their ability to lead fulfilling lives and pursue meaningful relationships.