China's marriage rate dropped to 7.2 per thousand in 2018, the lowest since 2013, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Civil Affairs.
The working-age population has been declining rapidly by three to five million per year in recent years, which has led to the declining marriage rate, according to the People's Daily, the flagship newspaper of the Communist Party of China.
The rise in living costs has also placed a burden on married couples.
Late marriage is another important reason for the decline, Shi Zhilei, a professor at the Zhongnan University of Economics and Law, told 21jingji.com.
Late marriage has become more popular in recent years. People aged between 25 to 29 account for the largest share of new marriages. Most people believe that "they have not met the right person" and "they are not capable of taking on family responsibilities," according to a survey by People's Daily.
From 1987 to 2017, the divorce rate rose from 0.55 per thousand to 3.2 per thousand. The figure has been rising for 15 years consecutively from 2003.
