A recent tragedy in Shanghai has catalyzed nationwide discourse on end-of-life arrangements for China’s expanding population of solo dwellers. The case involves a 46-year-old unmarried woman, identified only as Jiang, who passed away in December following a cerebral hemorrhage. With no immediate family, spouse, or children, and having lost both parents, her situation presented authorities with significant challenges in locating next-of-kin for critical medical decisions and funeral arrangements.
The Hongkou District Civil Affairs Bureau was appointed as Jiang’s estate administrator on December 24th by a local court after determining she had no legal heirs and left neither a will nor support agreement. Under China’s Civil Code, such estates become state or collective property designated for public welfare purposes, with civil affairs departments typically serving as administrators.
This case illuminates profound demographic shifts within Chinese society. National census data reveals single-person households have more than doubled from 58 million in 2010 to 125 million in 2020, now representing over one-quarter of all households. Projections from the Beike Research Institute indicate China’s solo-living population could reach 150-200 million by 2030, with adults aged 20-39 living alone expected to surge from 18 million in 2010 to 40-70 million within the next decade.
Legal expert Gao Mingyue of the Shanghai Bar Association emphasized to Legal Weekly that “the right to life encompasses dignity in death,” noting that while estate administrators have obligations regarding funeral dignity, specific standards require clarification through national legislation.
The funeral industry reports increasing cases involving individuals with limited social connections. Shi Hui, general manager of Shanghai-based BDR Funeral Services with 13 years of experience, notes that community committees typically arrange basic ceremonies using affordable 1,000-yuan ($142) funeral packages for those without family. Shi observes that traditional taboos often prevent earlier funeral planning, advocating that “death needs to be rehearsed through advance planning and preparation.”
Concurrently, estate planning awareness is growing nationally. The China Will Registration Center’s 2024 white paper reports providing consultations to over 570,000 people and registering 357,512 wills. Notably, the average age of will-makers has dropped from 77.43 to 67.71 years. Among unmarried individuals registering wills, over 80% were under 60 and predominantly well-educated, with 8% choosing charitable donations for their assets.