Four out of every five secondary school students believe the age of sexual consent should be lowered to 16, a survey has found.

Research conducted by the National Youth Council (KNZ) found that 16 was the preferred age of sexual consent among all youths surveyed, except for those aged 31 and over.

The debate on lowering the age of consent has repeatedly popped up on the national agenda over the years, however, government Whip Godfrey Farrugia this year said he expected a consensus on lowering it to 16 by the end of the year.

According to the survey conducted among youths aged 11 to 36, the most common reason for wanting to lower the age was the belief that young people would be able to make an informed decision. Two-thirds also believed that 16 was old enough to say no to sex.

The research, an online questionnaire released yesterday, quizzed some 680 youths on the age of consent and reasons for changing it.

More than 90 per cent knew what the current age of consent was (18) and three-quarters had heard of the possibility of lowering this to 16 through a legal amendment.

The majority of respondents, 55 per cent, claimed the appropriate age would be16.

Asked about the financial means of 16-year-olds, a quarter of respondents claimed they would have enough money to buy contraceptives. Only 12 per cent believed young people would have the financial means and ability to maintain a child. Nearly two-thirds believed that a change in the age of sexual consent would not encourage young people to engage in sexual activity, however, the rest held opposing views.

A 2010 World Health Organisation study on secondary school students in Malta had found 44 per cent had already engaged in sexual activities before the age of consent.

The study had found that nearly three-quarters of sexually active young men did not use a condom and 66 per cent of young women did not use the pill.