Single solution to rise of 'solo economy'

Xia Xiaosen, a 39-year-old content creator from Dalian, Liaoning province, who lives alone, prefers to buy fewer items but spend more on quality goods. One of her biggest monthly household expenses is her beloved cat Statham.

When she left the comfort of the family home five years ago, she soon discovered that greater independence came with a price tag. Setting up a household from scratch meant buying furniture, appliances and household items, something she had never thought about before.

Living alone also changed the way she viewed money. Managing household expenses and daily chores encouraged her to budget more carefully and purchase with greater focus.

Rather than buying in bulk, she now chooses smaller quantities of higher quality goods. For instance, she prefers a small box of fresh strawberries over a large bag of budget-friendly fruit. "I don't need large quantities. I prefer fresh, high-quality food that suits my pace. That is what the solo economy means to me: buying less, but better," said Xia.

Smart home devices have become essential to her daily routine. A robot vacuum, a dishwasher and automated pet care tools help her manage household chores more efficiently.

Her cat is central to her home life and one of her biggest expenses, costing about 400 yuan ($59.60) a month, excluding larger purchases such as an automatic litter box. But she believes the feline companionship is worth the cost. "Living with an animal shows you your own character. It reveals who you really are," she said.

A growing number of young Chinese are choosing to live alone or travel independently, giving rise to the "solo economy" centered on one-person consumption.

As businesses increasingly adapt products and services to individual consumers, greater autonomy and convenience have come with higher costs and everyday trade-offs.

Data from China's Ministry of Civil Affairs shows that the number of marriage registrations fell from 13.47 million couples in 2013 to 6.76 million in 2025. The ministry's Civil Affairs Statistics for the first quarter of 2026 reported 1.697 million registrations, down 6.2 percent year-on-year, continuing the long-term decline.

Beike Research Institute's New Era of Solo Living Report estimates that China's "solo-living population" reached 123 million in 2024 and is projected to rise to 150-200 million by 2030.

Xia said a solitary life is not without challenges. When she is ill is when she feels the absence of another person most acutely, as she has to deal with everything on her own.

She shares her independent lifestyle on social media, and sometimes receives hostile comments questioning why a woman would choose to live alone. "There is still a bias. Some people cannot accept that a woman living independently can feel fulfilled," she said.

But living alone has expanded her social life in unexpected ways. When traveling, she often chooses hostels because they make it easier to meet new people. Her attitude toward doing things on her own has also changed. She once felt self-conscious about going to concerts or the cinema alone, but now sees those experiences as liberating.

"I used to think doing things alone looked sad. Now I go to a concert by myself and end up meeting other people who came alone too. It feels free," she said.