China’s Top Health Body Advocates for Marriage and Childbirth at ‘Appropriate Ages’

By Farah Master

HONG KONG (Reuters) – China’s National Health Commission plans to increase its efforts in promoting marriage and childbirth at "appropriate ages," as officials work to address the country’s declining birth rate and shrinking population.

Yu Xuejun, the deputy head of the National Health Commission (NHC), stated that the commission will advocate for shared parenting responsibilities to encourage young people to develop "positive perspectives on marriage, childbirth, and family." This initiative aims to cultivate a "new culture of marriage and childbearing," according to Yu.

Legally, Chinese men can marry at 22, while women can do so at 20. This initiative comes in response to Beijing’s efforts to motivate more women to have children, following a decline in the population for the second consecutive year in 2023, with births hitting a record low.

Many women are choosing to remain childless due to the high costs associated with childcare, a reluctance to marry, or the desire to maintain their careers in a society that traditionally views women as primary caregivers. Gender discrimination also continues to be a significant issue.

Official data indicates that the number of marriages in the first half of this year dropped to its lowest level since 2013.

Much of the demographic decline in China can be attributed to the one-child policy that was enforced from 1980 to 2015, as well as soaring education costs, which discourage families from having more than one child or any at all.

Yu emphasized that the country’s low birth rate and rapid aging population are natural consequences of economic and social development. However, he urged all localities to make ongoing efforts to promote sustainable demographic development.