Fewer elderly persons holding driving licences, more getting married

The number of persons aged over 59 amounted to 87,975 last year, just over 21 percent of the total population in Malta and Gozo, the NSO said today.

Women made up just over 55 percent of this total.

In a statement to mark the International Day for Older Persons, the NSO said that according to population projections, the percentage of persons aged 60 and over is expected to increase to 33 percent in 2050.

The total government expenditure on pensions with respect to retirement amounted to €312 million in 2008, an increase of 12 percent with respect to the previous year. This amounted to nearly half the total government expenditure on social benefits for the same year.

Figures derived from the 2007 Survey on Income and Living Conditions revealed that elderly persons were at a higher risk of poverty than those below that age group.

As an example, while the at-risk-of- poverty rate amongst persons aged less than 60 stood at 13 percent, it stood at 20 percent amongst persons aged 60 or older.

During 2008, the number of driving licenses held by elderly persons decreased by nearly 1,000 to 39,717. Driving licence holders aged 60 and over amounted to 18 percent of the total number of driving licence holders in 2008. Nearly 80 percent of these licence holders were men. Twelve percent of individuals involved in road traffic casualties were aged 60 or older. Of these, 38 percent were drivers, while 35 percent were pedestrians. Furthermore, 30 percent of the pedestrians involved in road traffic accidents were aged over 59.

In 2007, 819 persons aged over 64 were living in non-profit and non-governmental elderly people's homes. Nearly 75 percent of these persons were women.

40 percent of NGO membership during the year under review was composed of persons within this age-group category. There were 643 persons aged over 59 years attending the University of the Third Age during the academic year 2008-2009. Nearly 20 percent of these students were aged over 79. The majority of these students were from the Northern Harbour District, while six percent were Gozitans.

In 2008 there were 38 grooms and 30 brides aged over 59 who decided to tie the knot. 47 per cent of these spouses got married for the first time. Spouses aged over 59 increased by 240 percent during the last eight years.