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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) — The number of marriage registrations in China increased in the first three quarters of 2025, indicating that the country's pro-family policies are beginning to have a positive impact after a record low in the previous year.
According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA), 5.15 million couples legalized their relationships in the first nine months of 2025, an 8.5 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024. The recovery is particularly noticeable in major cities: Shanghai and Shenzhen recorded increases of nearly 40 percent and 30 percent, respectively, reaching their highest levels in the past five years.
Experts attribute the increase not only to cultural factors but, more importantly, to a number of policy adjustments. These include a nationwide simplification of marriage registration requirements, as well as long-term incentive measures such as extended parental leave, childcare subsidies, and free preschool education.
Yuan Xin, vice chairman of the China Population Association and professor at Nankai University, stated that the latest data indicates that the government's supportive measures are taking effect. He also noted that positive media coverage is influencing young people's views on marriage and childbearing.
Drawing on historical data, including from regions with similar cultures, Yuan Xin noted in an interview with Xinhua News Agency that while customs may have some influence—for example, the auspicious "double spring" year of 2025—they are far from always the primary driver.
Looking ahead, Yuan Xin predicts that rising marriage rates will likely boost fertility rates, potentially leading to a new wave of births in 2026. However, he also noted that fluctuations in fertility rates are common during periods of broader demographic decline, both in China and globally.
Reforms to promote marriage
New regulations that came into effect last May allow Chinese couples to marry anywhere in the country without needing a hukou (residence permit). This ends a decades-long restriction requiring marriage registration at the place of residence.
This reform is particularly significant for the more than 370 million internal migrants in China, who no longer need to return to their home countries to register their marriages. On the first day of the new rules' implementation, marriages under these rules accounted for 30 percent of all new marriages in Beijing and Shanghai.
By the end of the year, more than 452,000 such marriages had been registered across the country, according to data from the Moscow State Archives.
Regions with large population influxes, such as the Pearl River Delta and Yangtze River Delta, are likely to see their share of national marriage registration statistics increase, according to Ding Changfa, a professor at Xiamen University in East China.
In contrast, small towns and rural areas with significant population outflow are expected to see their share decline.
Shanghai has also found a unique way to make the wedding process more memorable. "Cloud Registration," held on the 52nd floor of one of the city's panoramic skyscrapers, offers all-in-one registration and photography services. On favorable wedding days, all available time slots are filled almost instantly.
The new rules have also triggered a wave of "on-site weddings." In the picturesque city of Lijiang in Yunnan Province (southwest China), the number of such weddings has increased sharply since May.
At Sairam Lake in Xinjiang (Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Northwest China), more than 10,000 couples have legalized their relationships in just five months, receiving free lifetime entry to the attraction.
Other regions are following suit. Authorities in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province in southwest China, extended the opening hours of various services during the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, offering newlyweds free admission to attractions and various tour packages.
For Chen Hao from Jiangxi Province (Eastern China), the wedding on the shores of picturesque Erhai Lake in Yunnan Province, with the Cangshan Mountains as a backdrop, held special significance. "The wedding, as a symbol of our love, as eternal as the sea and mountains, truly resonated with us," he said.
MEASURES TO INCREASE THE BIRTH RATE
Marriage and childbearing remain closely linked in Chinese society. Experts believe pro-natal policies have helped shape marriage trends.
After abolishing the one-child policy and allowing families to have two or more children, Chinese authorities introduced an expanded package of financial and legislative measures aimed at stimulating the birth rate and creating a more favorable environment for childbearing.
The Chinese government has extended parental leave and introduced benefits, including an annual tax-free childcare subsidy of 3,600 yuan (about US$514) per child for families with children under three, as well as free tuition for the final year of kindergarten.
By 2026, China plans to fully cover basic childbirth costs through insurance programs nationwide. Fertility policy has also been elevated to a key national priority, as highlighted at the Central Economic Work Conference, which called for continued efforts to "stabilize the number of newborns."
Local governments are quickly making adjustments. The city of Tianmen in Hubei Province (central China) has introduced childbirth subsidies, maternity leave benefits, and measures to reduce medical expenses during pregnancy. Some regions are also encouraging employers to implement flexible work arrangements for parents with infants or young children.
Additional financial support measures are expected to follow.
Experts emphasize that transforming this positive momentum into a sustainable, long-term trend of population growth requires a comprehensive support system that covers the entire life cycle—from premarital counseling to childcare and education.
Yan Fan, Deputy Director of the Institute of Population and Health Sciences at Renmin University of China, noted that the policy's impact will become apparent over time. "This is a gradual process," he emphasized. "The long-term stability and continuity of these measures are most important."
The researchers also suggest integrating several policy aspects, including economic support, childcare services, protection of women's rights to work, and greater involvement of fathers in child rearing.
Yuan Xin also called for promoting modern and positive views on marriage and family among young people – in schools, factories, and community centers – while discouraging exorbitant bride prices, lavish weddings, and excessive dowries.
“We should also make full use of consultation hotlines to promote reproductive health and reduce unplanned pregnancies and abortions,” Yuan Xin added. -0-
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