Marriage rate declines to fresh low

China's birthrate has been on a decline over the past few years, and now the number of people tying the proverbial knot is also heading lower.

Last year, the marriage rate nationwide dipped to 7.2 newly wedded couples per 1,000 people, dropping for the fifth consecutive year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

The rate stood at 9.9 per 1,000 in 2013, and was 7.7 in 2017.