TY  - JOUR
A1  - Yu, Jia
A1  - Xie, Yu
T1  - Recent trends in the Chinese family: National estimates from 1990 to 2010
Y1  - 2021/03/24
JF  - Demographic Research
JO  - Demographic Research
SN  - 1435-9871
SP  - 595
EP  - 608
DO  - 10.4054/DemRes.2021.44.25
VL  - 44
IS  - 25
UR  - https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol44/25/
L1  - https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol44/25/44-25.pdf
L2  - https://www.demographic-research.org/volumes/vol44/25/44-25.pdf
N2  - Background: Family in China has experienced drastic changes in the past decades. Yet we have limited knowledge of the trends and patterns of the Chinese family in transition. 

Objective: This study provides a systematic documentation of the Chinese family in transition by estimating a variety of indicators of marital and fertility behaviors in China, including the singlehood rate, first marriage age, cohabitation rate, divorce rate, and nonmarital childbirth rate. 

Methods: We analyze data from the 1990, 2000, and 2010 China Censuses, the 2005 1% China Population Inter-Census Surveys, and the 2010‒2016 China Family Panel Studies. 

Results: The results indicate trends of delays in first marriage age and increases in premarital cohabitation in China. Despite below-replacement fertility, childlessness remains rare among married Chinese couples. In addition, almost all children are born and raised within marriage, with a virtual absence of nonmarital childbearing in China. Although we observe a slight increase in divorce across cohorts, the divorce rate within 10 years in China was much lower than in other East Asian societies. 

Conclusions: Our research suggests both continuity and changes in marital and childbearing behaviors in China. The trajectory of family changes in China has not followed those in Western countries. 

Contribution: This article documents the most recent Chinese family changes and provides national estimates of family behaviors in China. 

ER  -