Malta has largest families in EU

Maltese families rank the strongest among the 27 EU members when it comes to the state of family life, though state benefits leave much to be desired, a new report shows.

According to 'The Evolution of the Family in Europe 2008', a report published at the European Parliament by the Institute for Family Policy, Malta still has the highest number of members per household in the EU.

Malta has 3.2 members per family (2.4 in the EU); one of the highest birth rates, 1.51 children per woman (0.9 per cent in EU); and one of the fastest population growths - eight per cent in the past 10 years (against 2.6 per cent in the EU).

On the other hand, the report shows that Maltese families have among the lowest family benefits in the EU. The report ranks Malta as one of the EU member states investing least in the family. In fact, Malta spends less than 1.2 per cent of its GDP on the family which is lower than the average 2.1 per cent spent in the EU.

Denmark and Luxembourg are the biggest family supporters, spending 3.8 per cent of their GDP, primarily on benefits for maternity and child raising. Malta ranks with Romania and Bulgaria at the end of the table.

According to the report, in 2005 EU member states were setting aside an average of €500 (Lm214) per person annually for family-friendly policies and support. Malta was only dedicating €100 (Lm42.93) a year. At the same time the report recognises the improvements made in recent years, particularly the measure on children's allowance announced during the last Budget which contributes to a 14 per cent increase in support for families with a second child.

Local maternity benefits are also considered low. According to the report, Malta has the lowest amount of paid maternity leave in the EU, 14 weeks. The average in the EU is 23 weeks although two out of three member states do not offer this amount. Sweden is by far the most generous, granting women 18 months' paid leave. Some member states allow extension of leave with lower pay or even no pay at all.

In general, the report depicts a decaying picture of family life in the EU, plagued by marital breakdown and abortions. Marriage and birth rates are falling dramatically, pensioners now outnumber teenagers, and more people are living alone. The average marriage lasts about 13 years and the number of abortions in the EU every year is put at 1.2 million.

The report describes the European birth rate as critical with almost one million fewer babies born in the 27 EU member states last year than in 1980. The figures show there were six million more over-65s than under-14s in Europe last year, compared with 36 million more children than pensioners in 1980.

Belgium, Luxembourg and Spain have the highest rate of marital breakdown, on average two out of three marriages end in divorce in each country. At the same time, the drop in marriages is described as dramatic, with a marriage rate reduction of 24 per cent between 1980 and 2006. Two out of three European households now have no children, the report reveals.

Those couples that do have children - in or out of wedlock - are starting families later, women at an average age of about 29 and men at over 31. This is an average delay in starting a family of more than five years compared with 25 years ago.