Share of women who are married or in a union in China
China: Share of women who are married or in a union was 2.5% in 2021. ▼ Falling
Share of women who are married or in a union in China, 1970–2021
Source: United Nations (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
China recorded 2.5% for share of women who are married or in a union in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.5% on the previous year and up 17.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women who are married or in a union in China peaked at 4.3% in 1970 and was at its lowest, 2.1%, in 2010.
China ranks 162nd of 221 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 52 years of available data.
Share of women who are married or in a union in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4.3% | — |
| 1971 | 4.3% | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 4.3% | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 4.3% | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 4.3% | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 4.3% | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 4.3% | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 4.3% | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 4.3% | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 4.3% | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 4.3% | +0.0% |
| 1981 | 4.3% | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 4.3% | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 4.2% | -1.8% |
| 1984 | 4.2% | -1.9% |
| 1985 | 4.1% | -1.9% |
| 1986 | 4.0% | -2.0% |
| 1987 | 3.9% | -2.0% |
| 1988 | 3.9% | -2.0% |
| 1989 | 3.8% | -2.1% |
| 1990 | 3.7% | -2.1% |
| 1991 | 3.6% | -2.2% |
| 1992 | 3.5% | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 3.5% | -2.3% |
| 1994 | 3.4% | -2.3% |
| 1995 | 3.3% | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 3.2% | -2.4% |
| 1997 | 3.1% | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 3.1% | -2.6% |
| 1999 | 3.0% | -2.6% |
| 2000 | 2.9% | -2.7% |
| 2001 | 2.8% | -2.8% |
| 2002 | 2.7% | -2.8% |
| 2003 | 2.7% | -2.9% |
| 2004 | 2.6% | -3.0% |
| 2005 | 2.5% | -3.1% |
| 2006 | 2.4% | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 2.3% | -3.3% |
| 2008 | 2.3% | -3.4% |
| 2009 | 2.2% | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 2.1% | -3.7% |
| 2011 | 2.1% | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 2.2% | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 2.2% | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 2.2% | +1.7% |
| 2015 | 2.3% | +1.7% |
| 2016 | 2.3% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 2.4% | +1.6% |
| 2018 | 2.4% | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 2.4% | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 2.5% | +1.6% |
| 2021 | 2.5% | +1.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.1% | 3.8% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.3% | 3.0% | 3.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.5% | 2.2% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.3% | 2.1% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2 |
Countries ranked near China
- 161 Antigua and Barbuda 2.6% compare
- 163 Bahrain 2.5% compare
- 164 Bahamas 2.4% compare
- 165 Trinidad and Tobago 2.4% compare
More gender data for China
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 169,741 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -5.36 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 4.15 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 4.56 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 4.18 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 4.62 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 4.32 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 4.78 million (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 4.69 million (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 5.18 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women who are married or in a union in China?
- Share of women who are married or in a union in China was 2.5% in 2021, according to United Nations (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of women who are married or in a union recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 4.3% in 1970.
- What is the lowest share of women who are married or in a union recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.1% in 2010.
- How does China rank for share of women who are married or in a union?
- China ranks 162nd out of 221 countries with data for 2021.
- Is share of women who are married or in a union rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 17.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations (2024) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of women who are married or in a union. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage of women aged 15-19 sharing a household with their partner, whether married, cohabiting, in consensual partnerships, or in other non-marital unions.