Chinese City Authorities to Give Lottery Tickets to Newlyweds

In an effort to address the declining birth rate, the administration of the Chinese city of Xi'an has purchased lottery tickets worth 700 thousand yuan ($97 thousand) to distribute to newlyweds. The initiative aims to encourage people to get married and start families by providing them with a free chance to win significant prizes in the lottery.

The city's civil affairs bureau, in an official statement on WeChat, mentioned that the campaign not only marks the beginning of a happy life after obtaining a marriage certificate but also offers a high chance of receiving a small gift. The lottery ticket giveaway is set to continue until November 30.

China has been grappling with a declining population for the past two years, with factors such as high prices for children's goods and reluctance to take breaks from work contributing to the demographic challenges. The birth rate has nearly halved since 2016, and the number of registered marriages hit a record low in 2022.