BEIJING, June 10 -- In a significant policy shift aimed at enhancing family support, at least 27 provincial-level regions in China have announced extended marriage leave for newlyweds.

The Sichuan Provincial government recently revealed plans to increase the current marriage leave from three days to 20 days, with an additional five days for couples who opt for premarital medical checkups.

This proposal is currently open for public comment throughout June.

In the east China region of Shandong, which has a population exceeding 100 million, marriage leave has been legislatively extended from three days to a potential maximum of 18 days.

This decision aligns with a broader cultural emphasis on family bonds, as articulated by senior legislator Xu Jinmei, who noted that the existing limited leave does not adequately support the wedding preparations and ceremonies needed by young couples today.

Under national policy, newlyweds in China are entitled to three days of marriage leave, a provision that has existed since 1980. Officials attribute the current limited leave to contributing factors affecting marriage registrations and fertility rates.

Data for the first quarter of 2025 indicates that only 1.81 million couples registered for marriage, an 8 percent decline from the previous year and the lowest level recorded since 1980. Factors contributing to this decline include a decreasing number of marriage-age individuals and changing societal attitudes towards marriage.

Jiang Quanbao, a professor at Xi'an Jiaotong University, noted that the number of births in China has declined significantly since 2000, impacting the marriage registration base.

Li Ting, a demographer, has pointed out that increasing education levels and a growing sense of individualism have led many young adults to postpone marriage until they are ready to have children, diverging from traditional norms where marriage precedes childbearing.

To counteract the declining marriage and birth rates, various measures have been initiated across China, including streamlined marriage registration processes.

As of May, couples can register marriages anywhere in the country without needing to present household registration documents.

Local governments are also extending maternity and paternity leave as additional support for family planning efforts.

Concerns have arisen regarding the potential effectiveness of these extended leave policies amidst economic pressures on enterprises, with some experts emphasizing the need for accompanying financial support for businesses.

Furthermore, Zhai Zhenwu, president of the China Population Association, remarked that the cost of extending marriage and maternity leave is manageable and should not hinder efforts to implement these policies.

Amid these changes, the provincial authorities of Sichuan have proposed a framework for cost-sharing mechanisms, allowing local governments to coordinate funding efforts to support the implementation of extended leave policies.