China divorces drop 70% after controversial ‘cooling off’ law

Law requires couples to wait 30 days before formalising divorce - but some say it has made young people more likely to avoid marriage

The number of divorces in China dropped more than 70% in the first quarter of this year, after a controversial law forcing a cooling-off period" for couples came into effect.

According to data published by the ministry of civil affairs, 296,000 divorces were registered during the first three months of 2021, down from 1.05m in the previous quarter, and 1.06m in the same time period the year before, according to state media.