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To Combat The Decline In Birth Rate, China Considers Reducing The Minimum Marriage Age, A Measure That Generates Debates About Social Impact And Population Policies
A political advisor in China suggested reducing the legal marriage age as a possible solution to the country’s declining birth rate. The proposal, however, raised questions about its real efficacy.
Currently, China requires men to be at least 22 years old and women 20 years old to marry. Chen Songxi, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, proposed that the minimum age be lowered to 18.
He argues that this change would give more freedom to young people and align with international standards.
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The suggestion is part of a larger set of proposals to try to curb the population decline. Among them are the elimination of restrictions on the number of children per couple and increased financial incentives for families.
The Problem Of The Decline In Marriage Rate
The number of marriages in China has been declining significantly. In 2023, only 6.1 million marriages were registered in the country, a reduction of more than 20% compared to the previous year.
Young couples are delaying marriage and family formation due to various factors. Among the main reasons cited are long working hours, rising costs of living, and the housing crisis.
Additionally, there is a cultural shift underway, with younger generations placing less priority on marriage and motherhood.
The Chinese government sees this trend as a threat to long-term economic growth, especially as the elderly population is increasing. The concern is that with fewer young people, the country will struggle to maintain its workforce and sustain its economy in the future.
The Proposal And Its Limitations
Experts believe that lowering the legal marriage age will have little impact on birth rates. Xiujian Peng, a researcher at Victoria University in Melbourne, highlighted that similar policies have already been adopted in other countries, with no significant effects.
“In many countries, birth rates continue to decline, despite relaxed marriage or birth policies,” she stated. “For example, in Japan and South Korea, both countries are facing declining birth rates, even though the legal marriage ages are 18 or younger,” she concluded.
She also emphasized that the real problem is not the legal marriage age, but rather the socioeconomic conditions that discourage young people from starting families.
Among the challenges cited are high housing costs, lack of financial incentives, and difficulty balancing work and personal life.
Another expert, Yi Fuxian from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, agrees that the proposal may have limited effect.
According to him, the average age of first marriage in China is already approaching 30 years and is expected to continue increasing, regardless of changes in the law.
“The age of first marriage in China in 2020 was 29.4 years for men and 28.0 years for women, and it will continue to be delayed, following the same trend as Taiwan and South Korea,” he said.
What Might Change
For birth rates to sustainably increase, experts argue that the government should adopt broader measures.
These include creating more robust financial incentives, increasing housing support for young couples, and changing labor laws to ensure better work-life balance.
Peng highlighted the importance of policies that allow for more flexible working hours, remote work opportunities, and measures to prevent discrimination against women in the labor market.
With information from Newsweek.
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