Wang Yi in Munich: PRC seeks stability, calls for inclusive Ukraine peace talks, warns U.S.

Plus, marriages plunge to a record low

Welcome back to What’s Happening in China, your weekly China brief.

I hope you had a happy Lantern Festival.

According to recent data from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, 6.1 million couples registered their marriages in the PRC in 2024—a 20.5% drop from 2023 and the lowest since public records began in 1986. Meanwhile, 2.6 million couples filed for divorce, an increase of 1.1%, as it becomes more socially acceptable and economic independence empowers more to separate.

Why is this relevant?

For several years now, the PRC’s population hasn’t just been aging—it’s also shrinking. In January, the government reported a third consecutive year of decline, with the population reaching 1.408 billion at the end of 2024—a drop of 1.39 million from the previous year.

With birth rates closely tied to marriage, the latest numbers pose a challenge to Beijing. Despite government efforts to reverse the trend—such as public campaigns to promote frugal weddings, cash incentives, or Xi Jinping’s push for “fami…