Divorces rise for 16 years, marriages sharply fall since 2014
The number of divorces has been soaring in China in the past 16 years, as the marriage rate significantly falls since 2014.
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Ten million couples registered their marriages in 2017, a 7 percent decline from 2016. Meanwhile, about 4.37 million couples divorced in the same year, up by 5.2 percent, according to a 2017 social service development communiqué published on the website of the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
Communiqués in the past 20 years show that China's divorce rate has soared from 1.8 per thousand persons in 2002 to 3.2 per thousand persons in 2017.
Marriage rates have sharply declined. After peaking at 9.9 per thousand persons in 2013, the marriage rate in 2017 dropped to only 7.7 per thousand persons.
China's marriage age has also changed, with a growing trend of late marriages. Before 2012, couples between 20 and 24 years old accounted for the most married people. But since 2013, couples aged between 25 and 29 have taken the lead.
Authorities in China have tried to slow down the divorce rate.
In March, a couple in Anhui province filed for divorce at a court after a number of arguments about trivial family matters.
However, instead of granting their request, the judge imposed a "cooling-off period" of one month to give the couple time to reconsider.
The judge at Yixiu District People's Court in Anqing city urged the couple to cherish life with their family, and took time to explain the problems that could arise regarding the allocation of property and child support if the divorce was granted.
Four weeks later, the couple returned and told the court that they were dropping the case because they had decided to remain married.
"Some couples, especially younger ones, are more susceptible to impulsive break ups. The cooling-off period allows them to think twice and solve their disputes sensibly," read a statement released by the court.
In the past two years, cooling-off periods — lasting from two weeks to three months — have been imposed on couples filing for divorce in 118 courts in places as widespread as Beijing and the provinces of Sichuan and Shandong.
The move is part of a two-year pilot program to reform hearings involving domestic disputes implemented by the Supreme People's Court in 2016. During the period of reflection, courts do not deliver a verdict; instead, they investigate the family's situation or offer couples marriage guidance.
At the end of last month, the maximum duration of the cooling-off period was officially limited to three months and written into a guideline for handling domestic dispute cases issued by the top court.
Psychological assistance and social workers' surveys of troubled families were added to the guideline at the same time.
Sources: Global Times, China Daily
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