China considers lowering marriage age to 18 to boost births
During the annual parliamentary meeting in Beijing, delegates of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference will consider a proposal to lower the marriage age to 18 for both genders. This is intended to help combat the declining birth rate. However, the idea is controversial.
Bankier.pl reports that China is taking further steps to address its demographic crisis. During the annual meeting of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, delegates will discuss the proposal to lower the minimum marriage age to 18 for both men and women.
Currently, the marriage age is 22 for men and 20 for women. The proponent of this change is Chen Songxi, a professor at Peking University, who believes that the change could help increase the birth rate.
China's population has been decreasing since 2022, and experts warn that the decline in births could threaten long-term economic growth. However, Yi Fuxian, a demographer who has been calling for changes in demographic policy for years, believes that lowering the marriage age will not achieve the desired effect—according to reports.
Even lowering the legal age of marriage to 18 will do nothing to boost the fertility rate now that people have become accustomed to marrying young and having children later, says Yi.
According to data from 2020, the average age at first marriage in China was 29 for men and 28 for women. Yi predicts that it will continue to rise in the coming years, similar to Taiwan and South Korea, where couples often decide to marry only after turning 30.
Youth as "machines": experts express concerns
The proposal has sparked numerous controversies online. Some commentators fear that the authorities are treating young people solely as a tool to increase the birth rate.
The hidden goal of this is undoubtedly treating young people like reproductive machines, wrote a user signing as Haitao.
According to many, the key barrier to fertility is the rising cost of raising children, including high expenditures on education and real estate. Lowering the marriage age won't solve these problems if young people continue to delay family planning for financial reasons.
Professor Chen, who submitted the proposal, defends his idea, emphasizing that it should be viewed in the context of an entire package of solutions, including cash subsidies and medical support for families with children.
