China Marriage Registrations Drop to Pandemic-Era Low

(MENAFN) Marriage registrations in China fell sharply in the first quarter of 2026, reaching levels close to those seen during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to reporting cited on Monday.

The decline highlights ongoing demographic pressures in the country, which has experienced population decreases for four consecutive years alongside persistently low birth rates.

Data released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs on Saturday showed that 1.697 million couples registered for marriage between January and March 2026, reflecting a 6.24% decline compared with the same period a year earlier.

The figure marks the weakest first-quarter performance since 2020, when strict pandemic restrictions pushed registrations down to 1.557 million couples.

The first three months of the year are typically a peak season for weddings in China, as families gather during Lunar New Year celebrations and many couples choose this period for registration.

The downturn comes despite government efforts aimed at encouraging marriage, including expanded registration options that allow couples to marry outside their hometowns, incentives in some regions, and extended marriage leave policies.

At the same time, divorce registrations also fell slightly, decreasing by 1.27% year-on-year to 622,000 cases in the same period.

Marriage statistics are widely viewed as an early indicator of future birth trends in China, where having children outside of marriage remains uncommon.

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