To combat the declining birth rate, an eastern Chinese county is offering couples a “reward” of 1,000 yuan ($137) if the bride’s age is 25 or below. Changshan County published the notice on its official WeChat account, aiming to encourage age-appropriate marriage and childbearing for first marriages. Additionally, the notice outlined various subsidies related to childcare, fertility, and education for couples having children.
China is grappling with its first population drop in six decades and a rapidly aging demographic. To address these concerns, authorities are implementing a range of measures. These measures include financial incentives and improved childcare facilities, to boost the birth rate.
Despite China’s legal age limit for marriage being 22 for males and 20 for females, the number of marriages has been decreasing. This trend, along with other challenging policies has led to a decline in birth rates.
Recent government data revealed that marriage rates hit a historic low in 2022 at 6.8 million, the lowest since 1986. The number of marriages decreased by 800,000 compared to the previous year. According to state media reports, the fertility rate in China, already one of the lowest in the world, is estimated to have reached a record low of 1.09 in 2022.
Factors contributing to the reluctance to have more children or start families include high childcare costs, the need to interrupt careers, gender discrimination, and traditional gender roles. Additionally, young Chinese cite low consumer confidence and concerns about the country’s economic conditions as reasons for delaying marriage and parenthood.
