China's marriage rate fell during the first nine months of the year to an 18-year low, raising concerns about declining birth rates and demographic pressures. According to data published this week by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the period until the end of September witnessed the marriage of a total of 4.65 million couples, while 2.08 million couples separated. In recent years, the Chinese authorities have taken a series of measures to encourage marriage and childbirth, including providing subsidies to families, subsidizing childcare and reducing medical costs related to childbirth. Despite the efforts made, China currently supports a higher number of elderly than children, and the dependency ratio of the elderly exceeds that of children. China's population fell for the fourth year in a row in 2025, and the birth rate fell to an all-time low, prompting population experts to warn of further declines. The number of women of reproductive age in China, which the United Nations says ranges from 15 to 49, is expected to drop by more than two-thirds to less than 100 million by the end of the century.

China's marriage rate fell during the first nine months of the year to an 18-year low, raising concerns about declining birth rates and demographic pressures. According to data published this week by the Ministry of Civil Affairs, the period until the end of September witnessed the marriage of a total of 4.65 million couples, while 2.08 million couples separated. In recent years, the Chinese authorities have taken a series of measures to encourage marriage and childbirth, including providing subsidies to families, subsidizing childcare and reducing medical costs related to childbirth. Despite the efforts made, China currently supports a higher number of elderly than children, and the dependency ratio of the elderly exceeds that of children. China's population fell for the fourth year in a row in 2025, and the birth rate fell to an all-time low, prompting population experts to warn of further declines. The number of women of reproductive age in China, which the United Nations says ranges from 15 to 49, is expected to drop by more than two-thirds to less than 100 million by the end of the century.