Marriage and divorce

2. Statutory marriageable age in China

In accordance with the provisions of the Marriage Law, no marriage may be contracted before the man has reached 22 years of age and the woman 20 years of age. Late marriage and late childbirth shall be encouraged. There are flexible provisions in the ethnic minority areas, and no marriage may be contracted before the man has reached 20 years of age and the woman 18 years of age. Where the actual date of birth is inconsistent with the date recorded on the residence booklet and the ID card, the age recorded in the residence booklet and the ID card shall prevail.

[Note] The provision of the Marriage Law on the marriageable age refers to the minimum marriageable age and the limit to divide illegal marriage and legal marriage. Only when both the man and woman reach the statutory marriageable age can they get married. Otherwise it is illegal.