China’s Marriage Slump Poses Threat to Economic Growth

China registered 7.643 million new marriages in 2021, the first year since 2003 that the number has fallen below 8 million, according to the latest official data.

The figure, an update to the 7.636 million released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs in March, was made public as Beijing struggles to boost a falling birthrate to avert a looming demographic crisis. Officials and experts have warned that fewer marriages will lead to fewer births and further threaten economic growth.