# childcare subsidies

China’s Marriage Registrations Rebound — But Will Babies Follow?

China saw a notable rebound in marriage registrations in 2025 after years of decline, driven by procedural reforms, local cash incentives and expanded leave policies. While the rise eases short‑term demographic anxieties, structural barriers—childcare burdens, career penalties for women and changing social preferences—mean higher marriage rates may not translate into a sustained rise in births without deeper reforms.