 "China has around has around 35 million so-called 'leftover men'. Image for Representation. Reuters")
China is facing a unique demographic challenge—it has around 35 million so-called “leftover men”.
These single men, mostly in their 30s and 40s, are struggling to find a spouse for themselves due to the long-standing gender imbalance that has left the country with more men than women.
According to the South China Morning Post, Ding Changfa, an associate professor of economics at Xiamen University, came out with a solution to this problem — international marriages.
However, his proposal has stirred a debate on social media, with many questioning the implications of such an approach.
What did he say? and who exactly are these ’leftover’ men? Here’s a closer look.
The roots of imbalance
According to Seventh National Population Census conducted in 2020, China has approximately 34.9 million more men than women.
This demographic imbalance is a consequence of the decades-long one-child policy coupled with a societal preference for sons.
A report earlier this year from the Institute for China Rural Studies at Central China Normal University detailed the increasing difficulties faced by rural young men in finding spouses over the past decade.
Liu, one of the workers at Foxconn shared his story with The Guardian in 2017. After leaving school to support his parents on their farm, he moved to Shenzhen, hoping to earn more money. However, he found himself stuck in insecure, low-skilled jobs. The idea of dating is daunting for him because of his financial situation.
“It’s not because I’m a shy person. I just don’t have enough money to feel confident. When a man has money, every woman feels destined to be his girlfriend,” the 33-year-old told the publication.
The institute’s report identifies waning respect for the traditional marriage system and high bride prices as major contributors to this issue.
Jin, another factory worker from the Pearl River Delta, recounted his experience with The Guardian.
“My cousin brought [the date] to meet me in a public square in the village, then left us together," he said.
“A few minutes in, this girl made it clear that owning an apartment would be essential, but she could wait till later for a car. And she’d be OK if the apartment wasn’t in the centre of the town, but I had to have a deposit of at least 200,000 yuan [about Rs 23 lakh],” he added.
This situation puts immense pressure on men like Jin, who are expected to be the primary providers. The average disposable income in rural areas was just over 20,000 yuan last year, making the prospect of marriage increasingly out of reach.
Are International marriages the solution?
Ding Changfa, an associate professor from the School of Economics at Xiamen University recommended promoting international marriages and bringing in more foreign brides to China, reported SCMP.
Ding suggests that Chinese men, particularly those from rural areas, could look to countries such as Russia, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Pakistan for potential spouses.
“In rural China, we have approximately 34.9 million ‘leftover men’ who might face the marriage pressures of providing housing, cars, and bride price totalling between 500,000 and 600,000 yuan (nearly Rs 58 lakh and Rs 70 lakh).
He added, “Solving this issue could involve attracting a significant number of eligible young women from overseas.”
However, Ding Changfa’s comments ignited an online backlash, with many women voicing concerns that the concept of “importing” foreign brides bordered on human trafficking. Others highlighted the potential for language barriers, which they feared could lead to family conflicts and cultural misunderstandings.
Also read: How Chinese divorcees are paying big bucks to get their wedding photos shredded
Despite the criticism, some users noted positive aspects of the trend, pointing out the steady rise in international marriages across China.
The matchmaking trend
Are couples made in heaven? In China, they are increasingly being brought together on Douyin, the Chinese social media app.
The platform is witnessing a surge in influencers promoting international marriage as an option for Chinese men seeking brides abroad.
Jingongzi, a finance influencer with more than 1.8 million followers on Douyin, was quoted as saying in SCMP report, “South-East Asia has maintained close ties with China since ancient times, and culturally, we share many similarities. For example, Vietnam still celebrates the Lunar New Year.
“Consequently, women from South-East Asia don’t experience significant cultural shock when they come to China. Moreover, the local income in these countries is very low.
“Additionally, many South-East Asian countries are actively promoting Mandarin to strengthen ties with us, which will eliminate communication barriers.”
Additionally, some matchmaking services now specifically connect Chinese men with Russian women, capitalising on the demographic imbalance in Russia, which has a surplus of women.
With input from agencies