This has prompted Beijing to take up several measures to try to make having children more attractive to young couples after China posted a second consecutive year of population decline in 2023.
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China wants its youths to take love lessons
In China, college-going students, the biggest driver of fertility, are experiencing a shift in their mindset- meaning their views on marriage are evolving significantly, as per a Reuters report quoting the Jiangsu Xingua newspaper group. A poll by China Population News revealed that around 57% of college students reported are not wanting to fall in love.
The government is responding to this with an unusual approach. According to the same report, China is urging colleges and universities to implement ‘love education’ programmes to promote positive views on marriage, love, fertility, and family.
“Colleges and universities should assume the responsibility of providing marriage and love education to college students by offering marriage and love education courses,” the publication said.The measures would help create a “healthy and positive marriage and childbearing cultural atmosphere.”ALSO READ: China’s aging population fuels ‘silver economy’ boom, but profits can prove elusive
Due to the lack of “systematic and scientific marriage and love education, college students have a vague understanding of emotional relationships.” Universities could focus on teaching junior college students about population and national conditions, new marriage and childbearing concepts, it said.
Senior college students and graduate students could be taught through “case analysis, group discussion on maintaining intimate relationships and communication between the sexes.” The courses would be able to help them “improve their ability to correctly understand marriage and love and manage love relationships.”
Drop in marriage and birth rate in China
With young population in China rejecting the idea of tying the knot, the marriage rate in China is plummeting. The Evergrade Research Institute of China’s Tsinghua University carried out a survey which revealed a significant decline in young people’s willingness to get married.
According to the research, the number of marriage registrations fell from a record high of 13.47 million in 2013 to 8.13 million in 2020. The report also highlighted regional variations in marriage rates, which were negatively correlated with GDP—indicating that more prosperous cities tend to have lower marriage rates.
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Additionally, recent data from China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs revealed that 4.74 million couples registered their marriages in the first three quarters of 2024, reports TOI. This figure reflects a 16.6% drop compared to 5.69 million in the same period of the previous year. The drop aligns with a consistent downward trend since the peak in 2013. Fewer marriages directly impact birth rates, as social norms, economic challenges and government regulations in China make it challenging for unmarried couples to have children.
China is also grappling with a declining birth rate. A report published by Reuters in January 2024 stated that China’s population decreased for the second consecutive year, accompanied by a record-low birth rate. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the population dropped by 2.08 million, or 0.15%, reaching 1.409 billion in 2023.
Why are college students not willing to fall in love or marry in China?
It becomes a challenge for college students to balance their academic commitments with a relationship. And China’s higher education system is known for its intense competition and rigorous demands.
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First and foremost, gaining admission to top universities in China is highly challenging. Students must pass one of the toughest entrance exams in the world—the Gaokao, or national college entrance exam. To clear the Gaokao, students often prepare for months in advance. While millions take the exam, only a few thousand are fortunate enough to be admitted to the country’s prestigious universities.
However, their struggles don’t end with the entrance exam. University coursework in China is known for being exceptionally demanding, with students expected to maintain high academic performance, which can lead to significant stress.
As a result, many students choose to dedicate most of their time to studying and striving for academic excellence. This explains why 57% of students don’t want to fall in love.
There are other factors at play too. One of the prime factors to discourage childbearing in China in 2023 was youth unemployment. It surged to a record high, wages for many white-collar workers declined, and a crisis in the property sector, where over two-thirds of household wealth is stored, intensified.
In September 2023, reports suggested that China’s youth unemployment rate had reached a new high of 12.1% for individuals aged 16 to 24 who were not enrolled in school. This figure, released by the National Bureau of Statistics, marked the highest level of unemployment since the introduction of a new tracking system in December.
Unemployment, along with high housing prices, the rising cost of raising children, and expensive education, particularly in major cities are the major triggers behind low marriage and birth rates in China.
FAQs
Why is China concerned about its population?
China is concerned about its population because it is declining rapidly
What recent demographic trend has China experienced?
China has posted a second consecutive year of population decline in 2023.
What percentage of college students in China do not want to fall in love?
Around 57% of college students in China reported that they do not want to fall in love.
