23年より157万4千組減少！！～A decrease of 1,574,000 pairs from 2011!!

 今月8日、中国民政部は「2024年全国婚姻統計数字」を公表した。それによると、24年の1年間、全国の婚姻数は610万6千組で、23年より157万4千組も減った。減少率は20・5％にも上っている。たった1年で婚姻数が2割以上も減少したのは驚きだが、さらに言えば、24年の婚姻数は1986年以来、最低水準を記録し、2013年（1346万9千組）の半分以下に落ちている。結婚しない、できない原因には様々な要因があるのでしょうが社会全体が厳しい状況になってきていることの現れなのかもしれません。

以下、不安材料として考えられる項目です。

◆中国社会における不安材料
　1.経済的不安 
　・若者の収入が伸び悩み、物価や住宅価格の高さにより結婚や子育ての負担が
      増加。 
　・就職の競争が激化し、安定した職を得ることが難しい。 
　・経済成長の鈍化や企業のリストラが進み、不安定な雇用環境。

　2.住宅問題
　・都市部では住宅価格が非常に高く、若者が家を購入することが困難。
   ・親からの経済的支援が期待できない場合、結婚がより難しくなる。  

 3.価値観の変化 
   ・若者の間で「結婚しない自由」「個人の幸福を重視する考え」が広がっている。 
   ・キャリアや自己実現を優先し、結婚を後回しにする傾向。 
   ・女性の社会進出が進み、経済的に自立した女性が増加→結婚の必要性を感じな
      い人も。 
  4.少子化と育児の負担 
   ・教育費・養育費の高騰が子育ての負担を増大させ、「子供を持つこと」に消極
      的な家庭が増加。 
   ・政府が3人っ子政策を導入したが、経済的・社会的負担が大きく、効果は限定的。  

 5.社会保障の不安 
   ・高齢化社会により、将来的な年金や医療費の増大が懸念される。 
   ・若者が高齢の親の介護を担う必要があり、結婚よりも家族の世話を優先する
      ケースが増加。  

  6.人口バランスの問題 
 　・「一人っ子政策」の影響で男女比が崩れ、男性の結婚相手不足（特に農村部）
　　 が深刻化。 
    ・都市部では女性がより高学歴・高収入化し、男性との結婚条件が合わなく
      なる傾向。  

   7.政府への信頼低下 
    ・経済対策や社会福祉政策への不信感が高まり、将来に希望を持ちにくい。 
    ・厳しい言論統制や監視社会への不満が蓄積し、海外移住を考える若者も増加。  

◆中国の若者の生活意識
・「安定より自由を選びたい」
     結婚・家庭を持つよりも、自分の時間や趣味を大事にする傾向が強まっている。 
・「将来への不安が大きすぎる」
    住宅、教育、介護などの負担が大きすぎて、家庭を持つ自信が持てない。 
・「恋愛や結婚にコストがかかりすぎる」 
    デートや結婚式、新生活のスタートにかかる費用が高く、負担を感じる人が多い。 
 ・仕事が忙しすぎて時間がない」
　　長時間労働が当たり前で、恋愛や結婚に割く時間がない。  

このように、中国の社会環境や価値観の変化が婚姻数の減少を加速させていると言えます。母数が大きので僅かなパーセントでも大きく影響が出てきますね。
全国の婚姻数は610万6千組で、23年より157万4千組も減った。減少率は20・5％にも上
っている。
ちなみに日本の婚姻数は2023年の婚姻件数は47万4717組で、前年より3万213組減少
しました。規模が違いますね。
それだけ深刻ですね。若者の意識は日本と比べてもさほど変化はないように感じますが
政府に対する信頼の低下が大きいのかもしれませんね？！

On the 8th of this month, the Ministry of Civil Affairs of China released the "National Marriage Statistics for 2024". According to the statistics, the number of marriages nationwide in 2024 was 6.106 million, down 1.574 million from 2011. The rate of decline is as high as 20.5%. It is surprising that the number of marriages has decreased by more than 20% in just one year, but more importantly, the number of marriages in 2024 recorded the lowest level since 1986, falling to less than half of the number in 2013 (13.469 million). There are probably various reasons why people do not or cannot get married, but it may be a sign that the situation in society as a whole is becoming more difficult.

The following are items that are considered to be causes for concern.

◆Concerns in Chinese society

1. Economic anxiety

-Young people's incomes are stagnating, and the burden of marriage and child-rearing is increasing due to high prices and housing prices.

-Competition for employment is intensifying, making it difficult to obtain stable employment.

・Slowing economic growth and corporate restructuring have led to an unstable employment environment.

2. Housing issues

・Housing prices are extremely high in urban areas, making it difficult for young people to purchase a home.

・Marriage becomes more difficult when financial support from parents cannot be expected.

3. Changes in values

・The "freedom not to marry" and "the idea of ​​prioritizing personal happiness" are spreading among young people.

・There is a tendency to prioritize career and self-realization and put marriage on the back burner.

・As more women enter the workforce, the number of women who are financially independent increases, and some no longer feel the need to get married.

4. Low birthrate and the burden of childcare

・Rising education and childcare costs have increased the burden of childcare, and the number of families reluctant to have children is increasing.

・The government has introduced a three-child policy, but the economic and social burden is large, and the effect is limited.

5. Concerns about social security

・There are concerns about future increases in pension and medical costs due to an aging society.

・Young people have to take care of their elderly parents, and the number of cases in which they prioritize caring for their family over marriage is increasing.

6. Demographic balance issues

・The "one-child policy" has caused a collapse in the male-female ratio, resulting in a serious shortage of marriage partners for men (especially in rural areas).

・In urban areas, women tend to be more highly educated and earn more, making it difficult for them to find suitable conditions for marriage with men.

7. Declining trust in the government

・Distrust of economic measures and social welfare policies is growing, making it difficult to have hope for the future.

・Dissatisfaction with strict censorship and a surveillance society is building up, and an increasing number of young people are considering emigrating overseas.

◆ Lifestyle awareness of Chinese young people

・"I want to choose freedom over stability"

There is a growing tendency to value one's own time and hobbies over marriage and starting a family.

・"I'm too worried about the future"

he burden of housing, education, nursing care, etc. is too great, so they lack the confidence to start a family.

・"Love and marriage are too expensive"

Many people feel burdened by the high costs of dating, weddings, and starting a new life.

・"I'm too busy at work, I don't have time"

Long working hours are the norm, so there is no time to spend on love and marriage.

In this way, it can be said that changes in China's social environment and values ​​are accelerating the decline in the number of marriages. Since the base number is large, even a small percentage will have a big impact.

The number of marriages nationwide was 6.106 million, a decrease of 1.574 million from 2023. The decrease rate is as high as 20.5%.

By the way, the number of marriages in Japan in 2023 was 474,717, a decrease of 30,213 from the previous year.

The scale is different.

It is that serious. It seems that the attitude of young people has not changed much compared to Japan, but the decline in trust in the government may be large? !