Younger generations in China, born between the 1990s and early 2000s, have become increasingly disillusioned by traditional marriage customs which require the bridegroom to provide a house, car and other betrothal gifts, while the bride is occupied with housework and child-rearing in married life. They eschew some of the traditional foundations of wedlock, including matchmaking, financial dependence on their parents and love, instead valuing their independence more. This changing mindset has seen a drop in marriage registrations, which in the first half of 2024 declined from 3.93 million to 3.43 million, a decline of nearly half a million compared to the previous year and half the size of 10 years ago. Experts suggest instead of pushing young people to tie the knot, there should be a marriage-friendly culture that will enable young people to worry less about the cost of mortgages and children’s education, to make marriage more affordable.
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