2 weeks ago
Last Updated:December 06, 2024, 14:10 IST
Despite being the world's second-most populous country, China is facing a rapidly aging population as more and more youth are moving away from marriages.
Chinese youth are increasingly moving away from romantic relationships as the country's oopulation continues to decline. (Reuters/ Representative Image)
In an unusual step, China has urged colleges and universities to provide “love education" to promote positive views on marriage, love, fertility and family in an attempt to boost the country’s flagging birth rate.
The initiative comes as China is facing its second consecutive year of population decline in 2023, prompting Beijing to promote various measures to try to make children more attractive to young couples as more and more people shy away from relationships.
India has overtaken China as the world’s most populous country and China currently has a population of 1.41 billion. However, the population of China is ageing rapidly, which is likely to put a strain on the government’s resources and economy. China’s population aged 60 and over reached 296.97 million in 2023, about 21.1% of its total population, up from 280.04 million in 2022.
Young Chinese Adults Moving Away From Marriages
According to China’s Jiangsu Xinhua newspaper group, college students in the country are touted as the biggest driver of fertility but have become increasingly hesitant to pursue romantic relationships. Around 57% of college students do not want to fall in love, according to a poll by China Population News.
This pattern is also visible in other Asian countries like Japan and South Korea, as more and more youth are moving away from romantic relationships due to economic hardships, rising prices, unemployment and strenuous workload.
In China’s case, young adults are facing problems in allocating time between studies and love, as gaining admission to top universities is extremely challenging. Furthermore, rising youth unemployment and the high cost-of-living have discouraged people from tying the knot and childbearing.
China’s demographic challenges were exacerbated by its one-child policy, although it allowed couples to have two children in 2013 and three children in 2021. Despite its measures, the number of marriage registrations have dropped for nine consecutive years, marking a slight upturn in 2023, according to Xinhua news agency.
How ‘Love Education’ Can Solve China’s Crisis
China had adopted several measures to boost its birth rate, including enhanced childbirth support services, expanded child care systems, and strengthened support in education, housing and employment. It has now moved towards “love education" to create a birth-friendly society.
“Colleges and universities should assume the responsibility of providing marriage and love education to college students by offering marriage and love education courses," the Jiangsu Xinhua publication said. These measures are believed to help create a “healthy and positive marriage and childbearing cultural atmosphere."
Due to the lack of “systematic and scientific marriage and love education, college students have a vague understanding of emotional relationships" and universities could focus on teaching junior college students about population and national conditions, marriage and childbearing concepts, it added.
Meanwhile, senior college students and graduate students will be taught about marriage concepts through “case analysis, group discussion on maintaining intimate relationships and communication between the sexes". These measures are aimed at improving China’s flailing birth rate, which fell to a record low of 6.39 births per 1,000 people in 2023.
(with Reuters inputs)
Location :Beijing, China
First Published:December 06, 2024, 14:10 IST
News world China Promoting 'Love Education' Amid Declining Interest In Marriage, Kids. How Will It Work?
