"Get 17 Million KRW Just for Registering Your Marriage"... Dramatic Policies Unveiled in This Country Facing Low Birthrates

China's Marriage Rates Hit Historic Low
Marriage Avoidance Persists Despite Array of Incentives

As marriage and birth rates plummet in China, local governments across the country are offering cash and housing subsidies to encourage marriage among younger generations. However, some experts point out that the impact of these policies may be limited due to persistent structural burdens such as high housing and child-rearing costs and job insecurity.

Newlyweds. Photo by Getty Images

According to local media reports on August 18, certain local governments are providing cash or consumption vouchers to newlyweds who register their marriage. In Nanlingchun, Baiyun District of Guangzhou, couples who are both first-time newlyweds with local household registration are eligible for up to 80,000 yuan (approximately 16.75 million won) in support.

Since last year, Tianmen City in Hubei Province has been granting 60,000 yuan (approximately 12.56 million won) in housing purchase subsidies to newlyweds. Further broadening the scope of support, local governments are also seeking to ease the burdens of childbirth and parenting. These measures include childbirth incentives and home purchase subsidies for families with multiple children, as well as paid maternity leave of six, seven, or eight months, respectively, for women having their first, second, or third child.

Increase in Support Measures, But Weddings Continue to Decline

Image to aid understanding of the article. Getty Image Bank

Despite these efforts by local governments to encourage marriage through direct financial support, the nationwide decline in marriage registrations in China continues. According to statistics from the Ministry of Civil Affairs of China, 3,275,000 couples registered their marriage in the first half of this year, a 7.5% decrease compared to the same period last year. This is the lowest figure for this period since comparable statistics have been published. In contrast, divorce registrations increased by 3.9% year-on-year to 1,383,000 couples during the same period.

Youth Reluctance Deepens Amid Employment and Housing Insecurity

This has led to skepticism about the effectiveness of such policies. Some Chinese internet users have commented, "Do they really think people aren't getting married just because they're short 10 million won?" and "It's nothing more than a temporary fix."

Experts also point out that long-term burdens—such as high housing costs, child-rearing expenses, job and income insecurity—are the main factors deterring marriage and childbirth. As a result, they argue that one-off subsidies and administrative convenience alone are not enough to reverse the declining trend in marriage.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.