Status and trends of child marriage in China: 2000-2020

Lidan Lyu, Renmin University of China
Xiaoelei Li, Renmin University of China

Despite the overall trend of delayed marriages in China, child marriage—defined as marriage before the age of 18—continues to persist. This study examines the prevalence of child marriage in mainland China using data from the 2000, 2010, and 2020 censuses, with a focus on regional and gender-based patterns. The 2020 census reveals a 1.72% prevalence of child marriage among 20-24 year-olds, impacting approximately 1.29 million people. Girls are about four times more likely than boys to experience child marriage. Child marriage is concentrated in ethnic minority regions, areas with imbalanced gender ratios, and economically disadvantaged regions. While ethnic minority areas have seen a decline in recent years, some underdeveloped regions in central and eastern China have witnessed a rise in child marriage rates. Economic development and education have proven somewhat effective in reducing child marriage; however, in regions with poor economic and educational resources, especially ethnic minority areas, the issue remains acute. Child marriage poses significant risks to children's health and rights, directly opposing the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal of eliminating child marriage by 2030. Addressing this issue requires multi-level efforts, including enforcing stricter local regulations, enhancing access to education, promoting gender equality, and raising public awareness about the harms of child and early marriage.

Keywords: Children, Adolescents, and Youth, Gender Dynamics, Census data, Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination

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