Young Maltese men and women are the least likely to be culture vultures in the EU and also among the last to take flight from their parents' nest, a European survey has found.

A questionnaire of 19-29 year-olds found that Maltese youths made the fewest visits to museums and other cultural venues. Asked whether they had been to a museum or an art gallery at least once in the previous year, only 14 per cent said yes, the lowest among the 27 EU member states.

By contrast, almost half of European youths (49 per cent) said they had paid a cultural visit at least once during the previous year.

According to the Eurostat survey carried out in 2006 but just released, the most culturally-interested youths were the Finns (63 per cent), Slovaks (60 per cent) and the Swedes (59 per cent). Apart from the Maltese, those least interested in culture were the Bulgarians (21 per cent) and the Greeks (22 per cent).

On the other hand, 67 per cent of Maltese youths said they visited the cinema at least once in the previous 12 months and 29 per cent said they had attended one musical performance. In both cases, the EU average is much higher.

As to leaving the comfort of their parents' home, in 2007, the average age of Maltese males moving out was 31 and that of women only slightly younger at 29.3.

In the case of men, this is only surpassed by young Bulgarians, Slovaks and Slovenians. Other European nationalities, such as the Italians and Greeks, show a similar pattern, living with their parents on average until 30.9 and 30 years respectively.

On the other hand, Finns show they are the most independent-minded male youths in the EU, leaving home at an average age of 23.1 years.

In the case of women, the Maltese are only outdone by the Italians who, on average, start to live on their own at 29.5 years of age.

Again, Finnish women top the list, moving out at 22 on average.