# Marriage Costs

The Cracks in the Citadel: Why Even China’s Most Traditional Province is Seeing a Birth Rate Collapse

Fujian province, once a stronghold of high fertility due to its strong clan culture, has seen its birth rate fall below the national average for the first time in ten years. A combination of exorbitant 'bride prices,' soaring real estate costs, and a shift in pragmatism among the youth has led to a 58% drop in newborns over six years.