While the high quality of existing marriages is encouraging, the persistent decline in marriage registrations over three consecutive years signals a concerning demographic shift that cannot be ignored. The sharp increase in singlehood among residents aged 25 to 34 suggests that a growing segment of the population is finding marriage either unattainable or undesirable. This trend, if left unaddressed, threatens to accelerate the decline in birth rates and exacerbate the challenges of an aging population. When fewer young people form families, the long-term sustainability of the social support system is placed under significant strain.
Societal pressures and the high cost of living are often cited as barriers to marriage. For many young professionals, the need for dual incomes to maintain a certain standard of living creates a trade-off where career advancement is prioritized over family formation. If the current trend continues, the proportion of households with children will likely continue to shrink, further reducing the natural replacement rate of the population. This creates a cycle where the economic necessity of working long hours makes the prospect of starting a family feel like an overwhelming sacrifice rather than a natural life progression.
Policy interventions must go beyond current measures to address the root causes of this delay. Simply providing more leave is insufficient if the underlying structural issues—such as housing affordability and the intense competitive culture—are not tackled with greater urgency. Without a more comprehensive strategy to make marriage and parenthood more achievable for the average young resident, the country risks a future where family formation becomes a luxury reserved for a few, rather than a common aspiration for the many.