China is working on a new draft law to make marriage registration simpler as it faces a significant decline in birth rates.
The public can weigh in on the legislation until September 11, as announced by the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs this week. With a population of 1.4 billion, the country is grappling with one of the lowest fertility rates globally.
Births in China dropped for the seventh consecutive year in 2023, leading to more deaths than births for the second year running, resulting in a population decrease of 2.08 million—about the size of New Mexico, according to official statistics.
This new draft law is seen as a move towards a “family-friendly society,” aiming to ease marriage registration by eliminating outdated regional restrictions.
Currently, marriage registration in China is linked to a spouse’s official household, or “hukou,” which can create barriers to accessing education, jobs, and social services, making it tougher for couples from different regions to settle down together.
The draft law maintains a 30-day cooling-off period before couples can finalize a divorce, a feature of China’s Civil Code that has been in place since January 2021. This wait gives either party a chance to pull back from the divorce process.
While this policy aims to curb hasty decisions, it has faced criticism for potentially prolonging unhappy marriages and being vulnerable to misuse in cases of domestic abuse.
The proposed legislation has generated lively discussions on Chinese social media.
One user on Bilibili remarked, “Marriage is essentially a contract. Just negotiate the contract.” Another netizen highlighted the financial implications, noting that the changes could reduce the burdensome bride price tradition that requires grooms to give substantial gifts to the bride’s family.
One commenter expressed relief, stating it would simplify his marriage process: “My partner’s parents are not very happy with me, but it would save effort not to deal with them for hukou registration.”
Conversely, some believe the current law helps ensure thoughtful commitments, warning about the risks of impulsive marriages without family oversight.
Official statistics reveal an 8.3 percent decline in marriages among Chinese couples in the first quarter compared to 2023. Last year saw a modest increase of 850,000 marriages compared to 2022, largely due to the lifting of stringent pandemic restrictions.
The Chinese foreign ministry has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the draft law.