China’s marriage registrations fell 7.5 per cent year on year in the first half of 2026, underscoring the demographic challenges authorities face as they step up efforts to encourage nuptials and childbearing.Nearly 3.28 million couples in China tied the knot between January and June, down 264,000 from the same period last year, according to data released by the Ministry of Civil Affairs on Wednesday.Divorce registrations also rose 3.9 per cent to 1.38 million.Marriage registrations are closely watched in China as they typically serve as a strong indicator of birth trends in the following year, with extramarital births still considered taboo in many parts of the country.Last year, births fell to a record low of 7.92 million, down by about 10 million from the 2016 peak, as the country’s population declined for a fourth consecutive year.The nation’s shrinking and rapidly ageing population risks complicating Beijing’s efforts to sustain economic growth. Economists and demographers warn that a smaller workforce and fewer workers supporting retirees could weigh on productivity, raise pension and healthcare costs and prolong weakness in domestic demand.