Summary

China’s marriage rate hit a record low in 2024, with only 6.1 million marriages, a 20% drop from 2023 and the lowest since records began in 1986.

Rising costs, youth unemployment, changing gender roles, and a growing preference for single life contribute to the trend. Government incentives to boost marriage and birth rates have largely failed.

Social attitudes are shifting, with less family pressure to marry, skepticism over restrictive divorce laws, and calls for same-sex marriage recognition.

Experts warn this decline could accelerate China’s demographic and economic challenges.

  • @Jim9222
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    2315 hours ago

    In the great state of Wisconsin, there is a 120 day waiting period after filing and paying the Clerk of the Circuit Court. After the 120 days then you can obtain a date for a final court hearing before it becomes legally accepted

    So it could be much worse. It could be Wisconsin

    • magnetosphere
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      1315 hours ago

      Does Wisconsin require showing up for two or more “appointments” during those 120 days?

      • @Jim9222
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        1014 hours ago

        Yea from what I can tell, it’s the same but worse

        First before you even have the wait period you must go to court in order to file for the waiting period to begin. Additionally you have to pay a fee to even begin the wait process

        After the 120 days is up, you have a period of time to gather docs and obtain a court date for the final hearing. Failing to prepare during this period or engage the court for the final hearing will likely restart the entire process including waiting another 120 days and having to file and pay the fee with the Circuit Court

        I honestly can’t tell from the article what “appointment” means but it sure seems synonymous with us having to go to court multiple times to initiate the process and conclude it

        If I replace court appearances with appointment to align with the article. Then in WI you have a bare minimum of two appointments. If you have kids or need petitions for support to go through with the motion. You can have up to four appointments. Not acknowledging you may be forced to complete parenting courses before the final hearing is allowed to occur

    • @shalafi
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      -414 hours ago

      It’s wrong, but I don’t see it as a big deal either. If someone is escaping an abusive marriage, and can escape, being legally married carries no weight. And that’s the worst case scenario.

      Ex and I split amicably (mostly), went our separate ways. We were married for a couple of years afterwards because we were too lazy to pull the trigger.

      Are there situations where waiting 4-months hurts someone?

      • Porto881
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        1214 hours ago

        If someone is escaping an abusive marriage, and can escape, being legally married carries no weight.

        Other than the fact that an abuser can just hold all your property hostage for 4 months and leave you with either A) no legal claim to your belongings or B) no choice but to return to your abuser?

        Are there situations where waiting 4-months hurts someone?

        Why should be not be as easy to exit a contract as it is to enter one?

        • @shalafi
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          08 hours ago

          How does being married or not change that? Say I beat my wife and she runs away. She can get a police escort to get some of her things. I’ve been on the escorted end of that scenario. (Obviously they won’t wait for a moving service.)

          no legal claim to your belongings

          So you’re saying the law considers everything in a home the property of the person remaining, if they’re married? You should meet some people going through a divorce. It ain’t like that.

          Of course it should be easy to divorce. My first two words: “It’s wrong…”

      • @[email protected]
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        614 hours ago

        Being legally married carries weight.

        I have no idea how you think it doesn’t.

        Your amblicable split is not an example of how the process of a divorce with an abusive partner. It’s the furtherest it can get.

        Absolutely dumbfounded here.

        If this wasn’t trolling or sarcasm, you are not a clearly not wise person. I’m sorry if I’m the first to let you know.

        • @shalafi
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          8 hours ago

          All that and you can’t provide a single example of consequences? That’s literally all I asked for.

          The point of my anecdote was that nothing changed in our lives despite remaining married.