Rise in single mothers reflects changing face of Chinese families

Finding inner courage

Not all women find themselves on the path to single motherhood by choice. For some, divorce brings years of legal battles, emotional struggles, and the challenge of rebuilding both themselves and their family.

For Chen Jing, 43, her journey began over a decade ago. At the age of 33, she found herself in a marriage that no longer aligned with her personal values or aspirations. She had a growing realization that her relationship with her husband had stagnated, and they were no longer on the same path.

Chen yearned for growth — professionally, personally, and through new experiences. Their differing views on family priorities, parenting, and future goals, ultimately created an irreparable rift in their relationship.

The divorce, though painful, was the first step toward reclaiming her life. Like many single mothers, she worried about her child's well-being and the judgment she might face from society.

"At first, I feared that people would label me as a failure, seeing only the end of my marriage, not realizing the courage it took for me to make a choice for myself and my child. But eventually, I let go of that fear, because I realized that to live authentically and pursue what was right for us, I needed to be free from those expectations," she said.

Chen knew that rebuilding her life was essential, not just for her, but for her child. Financial independence became a priority, and she excelled in her human resources career at a Fortune 500 company.

Through therapy, introspection, and working on herself, she also regained her confidence and realized her true worth.

"I used to believe that I was broken, but through this journey, I learned I was a fighter," said Chen.

In 2021, Chen remarried and gave birth to a second son. Her goal to take her children abroad became a reality, and the family moved to various countries, including North America, Europe, and Africa. These international experiences shaped her perspective on parenting and education, and she now emphasizes the values of independence, resilience, and cultural appreciation in raising her children.

Earlier this year, Chen became a certified relationship coach after taking a course on relationship culture.

She now works to empower women, especially single mothers, to understand their worth, set healthy boundaries, and design lives that reflect their true desires. "The more I worked on myself, the more I realized that my purpose was to help others discover their own strength," said Chen.

Marriage registrations fall

The changes to family structures, particularly an apparent reluctance to marry, are reflected in civil affairs data compiled in recent years.

In 2024, there were 6.11 million marriage registrations and 2.62 million divorce registrations nationwide, according to Ministry of Civil Affairs statistics.

This compares with 7.68 million marriages and 2.59 million divorces in 2023. The year-on-year changes represent a 20.5 percent drop in marriages and a 1.08 percent increase in divorces.

In the first quarter of this year, there were 1.81 million marriage registrations and 630,000 divorce registrations, with the number of marriage registrations further declining compared to the first quarter of 2024, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Gu Xiaodan, a lawyer at Shanghai Golden Trust Law Firm, has extensive experience in family law and has witnessed firsthand the hurdles faced by single mothers. With the increasing divorce rate, single motherhood is no longer seen as unusual, she said.

"One of the biggest challenges single mothers face is the inadequate enforcement of child support rulings," Gu said.

"Marriage laws today focus more on protecting original assets and the rights of minors, rather than solely emphasizing traditional family structures," said Gu, who has observed a shift in how courts handle divorce cases, reflecting broader societal changes in attitudes toward single mothers.

While acknowledging progress has been made, Gu stressed there is still room for improvement.

"The law provides a framework for justice, but true support comes from the community. More initiatives — such as accessible legal aid, counseling services, and workplace policies that accommodate single parents — are needed to truly empower single mothers," she said.

Ultimately, Gu believes that single mothers should not just be seen as individuals in need of legal protection but as strong, independent women who deserve recognition and support. "Divorce is not the end of stability — it can be the beginning of a new, self-determined chapter," she said.