China marriage registrations hit record low of 6.83m in 2022

Decline compounds challenge posed by aging, shrinking population

20230612 China Wedding

A group wedding ceremony in the eastern Chinese city of Nanning in May: Many citizens are delaying marriage or opting to stay single. (Peng Huan/Feature China/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

CK TAN, Nikkei staff writer

SHANGHAI -- The number of marriage registrations in China hit a record low in 2022, adding pressure on policymakers looking to reverse the country's falling birthrate and shrinking population.

The latest statistics from the Ministry of Civil Affairs show 6.83 million couples registered marriages, the fewest since 1985 -- the first year for which data is publicly available. 

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