China Sees Marriage Registrations Rebound in 2025 Amid Policy Reforms

China saw a rebound in marriage registrations in 2025 after nationwide reforms made it easier for couples to register marriages anywhere in the country, Yicai News reported.

Shanghai recorded 125,102 marriage registrations last year, a jump of nearly 39 percent from 2024, according to figures released by the city's civil affairs bureau. Total marriage-related registrations, including divorces, reached 175,092.

The surge followed the rollout of a nationwide marriage registration policy on May 10, which allows couples to tie the knot outside their place of household registration. Since then, Shanghai has processed 41,332 cross-regional registrations, accounting for almost 40 percent of all marriages.

The average age at first marriage in Shanghai rose to 29.7, with men marrying at 30.3 on average and women at 29.1.

Symbolic dates like May 20, May 21 and the Qixi Festival ranked as the busiest days for registrations in Shanghai, with volumes surging from a year earlier.

Other regions saw similar gains. Fujian logged 169,756 marriages, up 12 percent, while Hefei's Shushan District rose 8.1 percent to 6,180 couples. In Fuyang, Anhui, first-time marriages made up nearly 78 percent of the 38,486 registrations.

The increase comes as China steps up efforts to encourage marriage. As of 2025, 29 provinces have extended marriage leave, with Shanxi and Gansu offering up to 30 days.

The changes have also fueled a growing trend of "marriage tourism," with cities and scenic destinations offering registration venues that let couples combine travel with legal formalities, increasingly embraced by younger Chinese.