County in Eastern China Offers Cash Reward for Young Brides to Boost Marriage Rates and Birth Rate Concerns
HONG KONG, Aug 29 – In an effort to combat declining birth rates, a county in eastern China is offering couples a financial “reward” of 1,000 yuan ($137) if the bride is aged 25 or younger. Changshan county recently announced this incentive as part of its campaign to encourage young people to get married and have children.
The official notice, published on Changshan county’s official WeChat account, stated that the reward aims to promote “age-appropriate marriage and childbearing” for first marriages. Additionally, the county is also providing various subsidies for childcare, fertility, and education to couples who have children.
China has been grappling with a declining birth rate and an aging population, which poses significant challenges to its economy and social welfare system. As a response, authorities have been implementing a range of measures to boost the birth rate, including financial incentives and improved childcare facilities.
Despite China’s legal age limit for marriage being 22 for males and 20 for females, fewer couples are getting married, resulting in a decrease in birth rates. This trend is attributed to official policies that make it more difficult for single women to have children.
Government data released in June revealed that marriage rates in China hit a record low in 2022, with only 6.8 million marriages taking place, the lowest since 1986. Furthermore, there were 800,000 fewer marriages last year compared to 2021.
China’s fertility rate, one of the lowest in the world, is estimated to have dropped even further to a record low of 1.09 in 2022, as reported by state media.
The high costs of childcare and the impact on women’s careers have discouraged many women from having more children or any at all. Gender discrimination and traditional stereotypes that expect women to primarily care for their children still prevail in many parts of the country.
Low consumer confidence and concerns over China’s economic health are also contributing factors cited by young Chinese for their reluctance to marry and have children.
The incentive program in Changshan county aims to reverse these trends and increase the marriage and birth rates among young couples. However, it remains to be seen how effective this reward system will be in incentivizing marriage and addressing the underlying factors that deter young people from starting families.
($1 = 7.2900 Chinese yuan renminbi)
Reporting by Farah Master; Editing by Lincoln Feast
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