Distribution of renters in Shanghai 2022, by marital status
According to a survey focusing on renters in China's major cities, as of early 2022, almost six in ten renters in Shanghai were single while having no partner. Around one in four renters were in a relationship, while less than 17 percent were married. The renting population in Shanghai is predominantly people from other provinces looking for better opportunities in the city. Due to local customs, buying a flat is often a prerequisite to marriage in China. As Shanghai's property prices are some of the most expensive in the world, many residents would leave Shanghai and return to their home provinces when they decide to raise a family.