ISTANBUL 

China's marriage rate fell to a nine-year low in the first half of 2024, according to recent data released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Marriages in the first six months of 2024 fell to 3.43 million, a 13% drop from the same period in 2023.

The decline was particularly sharp in the second quarter, with only 1.46 million marriages registered, down 26% from the previous quarter and 18% from the second quarter of 2023.

According to the data, if this trend continues, the total number of marriages could fall below 6.5 million in 2024, compared to 7.68 million in 2023 and 11.33 million in 2016, which is almost two times higher than today's rates.

The decline is attributed to economic pressures, changing social norms and the rising cost of living in big cities.

"The number of marriages is a barometer of the economy," said Yi Fuxian, a campaigner against China's one-child policy. The decline in marriage rates indicates a bleak economic situation and high youth unemployment, he said.

The data also showed that divorces have fluctuated over the years, but show a general downward trend in recent years. The total number of divorces in China peaked at 4.043 million in 2019 before falling to 2.6 million in 2023.

Despite government efforts to encourage marriage and childbirth, the latest figures suggest that these measures have yet to reverse the trend.