Malta's dwindling population due to a low birth rate

Ideally, in demographic terms, society is expected to replace itself from one generation to the next by registering a fertility birth rate of 2.1 per every woman. Unfortunately, based on the latest demographic statistics published by the National Office of Statistics, the fertility rate in Malta has reached a very low level of 1.08.  

It takes no genius or master statistician to warn us that such a low fertility rate can be the cause of a demographic deficit, which refers to a situation where there are not enough people of working age who can support those who, for one reason or another, are not active in the labour market. Simply put, the family has to function amid a set of dilemmas and ambivalences that may intensify the complexity of married life.  In their quest to adjust to this complexity, the spouses have to come to terms with this paradigm shift in marriage life.  

Dr Falzon, the minister for social welfare, recently cautioned about a potential future deficit in the “pay as you earn” pension system in Malta.  With fewer workers paying and a growing number of ageing pensioners, the system needs some attention to cater for the shortfall in taxes collected.  Malta’s already low fertility rate is forecast to continue shrinking, according to a major study that showed that the population of almost every country in the world will drop by the end of the century. 

A study commissioned by the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality shows that more than three out of every four women who have one child do not want any more children. One question is whether the government is doing enough to encourage more births.  Let us examine what assistance has been provided so far. Overall, Malta's healthcare system is designed to provide comprehensive and high-quality care to expectant mothers and newborns, ensuring their health and well-being throughout the entire perinatal period.

It is praiseworthy to mention child-centred practices which prioritise their safety and actively provide the support that ensures that the emotional needs of the children are being met to the highest possible level of satisfaction.  Higher social benefits may attract young families to have more children.  In fact, state paediatricians conduct regular check-ups to monitor the growth and development of infants and young children.  These check-ups include physical exams, developmental assessments, and health screenings. 

Public health campaigns aim to educate expectant mothers and families about healthy pregnancy practices, the importance of prenatal care, and the benefits of breastfeeding.  Furthermore, the government provides financial allowances for families with children.  These benefits are designed to help cover the costs associated with raising children.  There are also generous tax benefits.  Families with children can benefit from various tax deductions and credits, which help reduce the overall financial burden. 

A novel idea of parental leave has been introduced.  This offers maternity leave for mothers and paternity leave for fathers, ensuring that parents can take time off work to care for their newborns.  More assistance is offered for childcare support. This includes free childcare services for children up to a certain age. This initiative helps parents, especially mothers, to return to work without worrying about the high costs of childcare.  In the case of low-income families, they share a concern about how to acquire decent accommodation. State initiatives are in force to provide affordable housing options for young families, including rental subsidies and assistance with home purchases. 

Naturally, every child needs adequate schooling, which is not cheap to maintain for young families with one breadwinner.  Education is free in Malta from Kindergarten to a master's degree at the University.  In addition, there is free medical care assistance for pregnant women and young children, including free vaccinations and regular health check-ups.  Recently, there have been subsidies for fertility treatments such as in-vitro fertilization (IVF). In spite of these measures, being part of a comprehensive approach to create a more family-friendly environment yet so far in Malta, they do not address the multifaceted issues contributing to the low birth rate.

During a recent conference, economist Marie Briguglio said Malta would only be able to address its low fertility rate once it swaps the cultural norm of “killing oneself with work” with one that focuses on people’s well-being. More than three out of every four women who have one child do not want any more children, according to initial findings of research into perceptions on work-life balance in Malta. A tongue-in-cheek budget 2024 measure offered Є1,000 to people who had a second child, yet it did not prove successful.  

Another survey shows that 13.8% of women said they had postponed parenthood to their 30s as they wanted to save for their first home, and 27.6% of men did.  A significant number of respondents - 33.9% - reported that when it came to financial matters, they lived day by day and could not plan for the future. Quoting Professor Anna Borg, who chairs the Malta Woman’s Lobby, also referred to as "poor support structures" for working mothers. Can we question why school hours are so short, while summer holidays are too long?  

Recently, the Malta Midwives Association president, Mary Buttigieg Said, noted that unnecessary Caesarean sections cost the national coffers €3.7 million in 2011.  The report further states that neonatal mortality rates ranged from 1.2 per 1,000 live births in Iceland to 4.5 in Malta and 5.5 in Romania.  By comparison, South Korea has the lowest fertility rate in the world at 0.78.  Overall, South Korean media presents a diverse and evolving portrayal of family and parenthood, reflecting both traditional values and modern realities.  

In summary, for a population to continue regenerating itself, it needs a replacement-level fertility rate of 2.1 births per woman.  Talking about our demographic situation, one notes that we keep inching further and further away from that figure of 2.1.  By placing this in perspective, notice how, in 1950, the total fertility rate for Malta stood at 4.04 births per woman, which dropped dramatically to 1.98 in 1980 and 1.53 in 2021. Eurostat data published last year showed that Malta has the lowest fertility rate in Europe. The consensus shows that Malta’s future fertility rates will continue to decline worldwide and will remain low even under the successful implementation of the pro-natal policies mentioned in this article.