China struggles with declining marriage and birth rates

China is facing a severe demographic crisis as marriage and birth rates continue to decline. Official data indicates that only 6.1 million marriages were recorded in 2024, a significant drop from 13.5 million in 2013. Furthermore, annual births have reached record lows, with 7.92 million babies born in 2025, marking the lowest total since the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

In response, the Chinese government has implemented various incentives, including cash subsidies, extended maternity leave, and tax breaks. Following the end of the one-child policy, authorities transitioned to a three-child limit in 2021 to encourage larger families.

However, these measures have met with social resistance and online backlash. National Health Commission director Lei Haichao recently stated that authorities would work to create a fertility-friendly environment while “guiding and resisting” what he termed “not quite correct views on marriage and childbearing.” Many young citizens argue that the decline is driven by economic pressures and changing social values rather than incorrect attitudes, leading to a growing divide between state policy and the realities of the younger generation.