A Concern For The Next Generation? Malta’s Fertility Rate Lowest In Europe
Eurostat data published on Thursday reveals that Malta has the lowest fertility rate in Europe, with just 1.13 live births per woman compared to the EU average of 1.53.
The data showed birth rates around Europe as of 2021, with France (1.84), Czechia (1.83) and Romania (1.81) at the top of the list, and Malta (1.13), Spain (1.19) and Italy (1.25) at the bottom.
While Europe has maintained a stable fertility rate over the past decade, Malta on the other hand has been on the decrease since 2012, when its rate stood at 1.42 births per woman.
There are a number of potential reasons why Malta’s birth rate is so low but it is often associated with increasing work deamnds and a higher cost of living. Just recently, Malta Chamber President Marisa Xuereb called for a change in the current culture which demands a 50-60 hour work week to advance in middle management.
She argued that women want to save more time for their family and other responsibilities, but they are unable to advance beyond middle management.
The government’s implementation of the EU Work-Life Balance Directive received criticism from lobbyists last year, who argued that it will increase the caring gap between women and men.
Do you think better work-life initiatives should be implemented or is this a cultural shift ?