You can get a license anywhere, but young people don't get married because it's inconvenient

Multiple civil affairs departments have extended marriage registration services to subway stations, parks, and other places, attempting to boost marriage intentions by improving convenience and ceremony. But in the second quarter of 2026, there were only 3.275 million marriage registrations nationwide, which is more than half of the peak in 2013. The prudence of young people towards marriage stems from their long-term responsibilities as an economic community, including property, debt, and childcare. The decrease in the eligible population, high cost of living, intensified workplace pressure, and hidden costs brought about by some institutional designs have weakened the motivation to get married. Simply lowering the registration threshold is difficult to reverse the trend, and systematically reducing the real burden behind marriage may be more crucial.