Over 40% of Chinese Villages Face Unmarried Man Problem: Study
A recent report from the China Rural Research Institute of Huazhong Normal University has found that more than 40% of villages in China are facing a significant challenge regarding the marriage of older, single men. The study, which surveyed 119 villages across 26 provinces, has highlighted the issue of the disproportionately high number of unmarried adult males in rural areas.
29 January 2024
"Four in ten villages in China face an unmarried man problem," said Professor Huang Zhenhua of Huazhong Normal University. "The problem of younger unmarried men in rural areas is increasingly serious," he added.
According to the report, the issue is more pronounced in central provinces than in eastern or western regions. The study also found that 4.01% of rural households have at least one unmarried man over the age of 28, with the number increasing to 5.48% for those aged 35 and over.
One of the reasons for this phenomenon is the disparity in the rural population's gender ratio. The latest statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics reveal that the national rural population's sex ratio was 107.91, with a higher number of men than women. Moreover, traditional marriage customs have made it more difficult for rural men to find spouses. With the rise of urbanization, many young rural women have chosen to move to urban areas, leading to a more significant imbalance in the numbers of available men and women for marriage.
In an attempt to address this problem, local governments and communities have taken various steps to promote positive marriage practices within rural areas. For example, in the village of Feiyue in Lishui City, Fujian Province, a self-organizing, leading group that promotes the healthy development of a new marriage culture has been established. The group prioritizes combating social vices associated with weddings and the preservation of traditional Chinese culture.
"In the past, we have seen many cases where families had to rely heavily on borrowing money to pay for their son's wedding. Now, we have introduced a new marriage culture which encourages people to save money and invest in their future," said Zhang Xiaoyu, a member of Feiyue's leading group.
Other villages have also taken steps to address the issue. In Weixi Village, Xinjian County, Jiangxi Province, the local government has started to provide financial incentives for eligible bachelors to marry younger, single women from urban areas. The hope is that this will help to balance the gender ratio and provide more opportunities for rural men to find suitable partners.
In response to the issue, many people have taken to social media platforms such as Weibo to express their opinions. Some have suggested that the government should provide more support for rural men in finding spouses, while others have argued that the root of the problem is the cultural preference for sons over daughters, which has led to a surplus of unmarried men in rural areas.
Professor Huang Zhenhua of Huazhong Normal University commented on the issue, saying, "We need to pay more attention to the problem of unmarried men in rural areas. We need to discuss ways to create more opportunities for rural men to find partners and start families."
"At the same time, we must ensure that the traditional Chinese culture surrounding marriage remains intact," he added. "We must not lose our sense of values and identity when addressing this issue."
In conclusion, the issue of a surplus of unmarried, older men in rural China is a complex and multifaceted one. While some have suggested that the government should provide more support for these men in finding spouses, others believe that the solution lies in addressing the cultural reasons behind the phenomenon. Whatever the solution, it is clear that further action is needed to ensure that rural men have the same opportunities as their urban counterparts to find partners and start families.