China's efforts to boost population growth face new challenges as marriage registrations dropped significantly in the first nine months of 2024, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Official data shows 4.747 million couples registered for marriage during this period, marking a substantial decline of 943,000 from the previous year's 5.69 million registrations. Meanwhile, divorces held relatively steady at 1.967 million, down marginally by 6,000. The government released the latest data on Friday.

The decline comes despite government initiatives to encourage marriage and childbearing, including simplified marriage registration processes and stricter divorce requirements. Young Chinese increasingly cite economic pressures and career uncertainties as reasons for postponing marriage.

This trend compounds China's demographic challenges, following a second consecutive year of declining birth rates. The government has responded with various policies promoting what it calls a "new-era" marriage culture, with President Xi Jinping emphasizing women's role in family formation.

The issue has sparked widespread discussion on Chinese social media, reflecting growing debate about traditional family expectations amid economic slowdown.