“Rising living expenses and gender imbalance have driven bride prices to unprecedented levels in China, leading to a significant drop in marriage rates as men confront exorbitant dowries”
In China, the skyrocketing bride prices are causing a stir as men face the daunting prospect of paying up to 500,000 yuan (approximately $70,000) to secure a marriage. This surge in dowry costs is largely attributed to high living expenses and a persistent gender imbalance, which have intensified over the years.
According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs, new marriage registrations have plummeted by 18% in the second quarter of 2024, dropping to 1.46 million couples. This marks the second-lowest rate on record, following the 1.39 million couples registered in the fourth quarter of 2022.
A study by Professor Gong Weigang from Wuhan University highlights that the average bride price was about 9,000 yuan (over $1,300) in 2007 but has since increased dramatically. The price has surged tenfold due to the imbalance between the number of men and women and rising living costs.
Bride prices vary by region, with eastern provinces like Shanghai, Fujian, and Jiangxi experiencing some of the highest rates. Jiangxi tops the list, with the current average bride price around 830,000 yuan (nearly $115,000). In January 2023, a woman from Jiangxi demanded a dowry of nearly 20 million yuan (about $2.7 million) from her suitor’s family.
In June, over 100 parents attended a marriage fair in Tianhe Park, Guangzhou, where they showcased detailed profiles of their children and outlined their expectations for potential sons-in-law. “If my son truly loves his partner, we are willing to pay the high bride price,” said the mother of a 40-year-old man.
A 30-year-old participant expressed his concern, saying, “I feel pressured to buy a house for my future family. If the bride price is too high, I may choose not to marry.”
In late June, volunteers in Luoyang, Henan province, began visiting single men and women, advocating for the abandonment of exorbitant bride prices and promoting a more modern and civilized approach to marriage.
In December 2023, the Supreme People’s Court of China issued a judicial interpretation on dowry disputes, stating that if a couple lives together for only a short period after marriage and has no children, the court may support the return of the dowry. If the couple has lived together for a long time and has children, the court will not support returning the dowry.
In February 2024, the Supreme People’s Court clarified the concept of bride price and principles for refunds, noting that parents may be summoned in disputes over dowries, as they often play a role in arranging their children’s marriages.
