Malta currently has the lowest total fertility rate in the European Union…a figure that raises important questions about our country’s future. But fertility isn’t just about numbers; it’s about women’s lives, choices, and the support systems around them.
Across the world, countries are searching for ways to encourage family growth without compromising women’s independence or wellbeing. From financial incentives to workplace reforms, these global examples show that the path forward lies not in pressure, but in empowerment: creating environments where women and families can thrive.
1. Policy Approaches: Beyond Cash Incentives and Childbirth Grants
Many governments have experimented with financial support to encourage parenthood.
In Australia, the Baby Bonus created a modest rise in fertility, especially among families having a second or third child. Though the results came later and the cost per birth was high, it demonstrated that financial reassurance can make a difference when paired with social trust and stability.
In South Korea, childbirth grants and child allowances helped, but the most effective measures were those that gave women breathing space: flexible work, accessible childcare, and meaningful parental leave. When women were supported both economically and emotionally, they felt freer to embrace motherhood on their own terms.
Meanwhile, Russian research shows that relying on “demographic self-regulation” (hoping families will naturally have more children) doesn’t work. Instead, policies that actively invest in families with three or more children can shift population trends. The message is clear: empowered families, not forced choices, create change.
2. Social and Relationship Factors
Fertility is not only about economics. It’s about connection and security.
In Australia, where most births still happen within relationships, rising singlehood and delayed partnership have quietly reduced fertility rates. Longer education paths, job instability, and housing costs often push women to postpone starting families.
Policies that strengthen relationship stability, promote secure employment, and make housing more affordable help women plan families with confidence. When women feel emotionally and financially safe, they are more likely to choose motherhood, not out of obligation, but out of desire.
3. Maternal Health and Childbirth Support
Every woman deserves a birth experience that is safe, supported, and dignified.
In the UK, even as birth numbers declined, Caesarean rates continued to rise, highlighting the growing need for better clinical and emotional support for mothers. Older mothers, in particular, face more complex pregnancies, making compassionate, well-resourced maternity care essential.
Investing in midwives, obstetric teams, and maternal wellbeing isn’t just healthcare. It’s a promise to women that their bodies and choices are valued.
4. Structural Factors: Education, Work, and Cultural Values
Empowerment means choice, and choice requires systems that work for women.
In the United States, the fertility rate has dropped to 1.6, even though economic conditions have never been better. Why? Because young adults are spending more years in education and entering the workforce later, delaying both marriage and parenthood.
By diversifying education pathways, offering vocational alternatives, and providing flexibility in both study and work, societies can make it easier for women to integrate career growth with family aspirations. When women don’t have to choose between success and motherhood, both flourish.
Shining a Light on Malta’s Next Steps Towards Family Growth
In 2024 a national study was conducted by Prof. Anna Borg and Prof. Liberato Camilleri for the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE). This study has brought crucial insight into the daily realities of Maltese women and men aged 18 to 39. While women wish to have an average of two children and men 1.86, Malta’s Total Fertility Rate remains at just 1.08: the lowest in the EU.
The research revealed one consistent challenge: balancing paid work with family life. The strain of doing both disproportionately affects mothers, often discouraging them from having more children.
The study calls for bold, multi-level reforms:
At the government level: Maternity, paternity, and parental leave must be longer, better paid, and shared fairly between parents. The study also proposes a new leave for parents when their children are sick. Without financial parity, fathers rarely take leave, reinforcing caregiving inequalities.
At the organisational level: Workplaces need to move beyond outdated “ideal worker” cultures that prize constant availability over wellbeing. Employers and unions should be encouraged and supported to adopt family-friendly policies through government-backed incentives.
At the family and cultural level: Unequal division of household and childcare duties still burdens women. Education, both at school and through public campaigns, is vital to reshape how society views caregiving and gender roles.
Ultimately, true work–life balance is an act of empowerment. It allows women to pursue their ambitions, nurture their families, and participate fully in both public and private life.
Malta’s future depends on creating a system where families don’t have to choose between stability and love, between income and care. When women feel supported, respected, and trusted, fertility naturally follows.
Conclusion
Raising Malta’s fertility rate isn’t about persuading women to have more children. It’s about empowering them to choose freely.
When financial stability, work flexibility, healthcare, and gender equality come together, families thrive. From Australia to South Korea, from the UK to Malta, the most successful strategies are not those that dictate, but those that support and uplift women.
The path to higher fertility is not about control. It’s about creating a world where motherhood and ambition walk hand in hand.
Wham extends heartfelt thanks to Prof. Anna Borg for kindly reviewing this article and confirming the accuracy of its content. Her time and guidance are deeply appreciated.
Prof. Anna Borg is an Associate Professor at the Centre for Labour Studies within the University of Malta. She is an experienced researcher and lecturer in subjects relating to gender equality between women and men and gender mainstreaming.
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Borg, A., & Camilleri, L. (2024). Perceptions and Attitudes of Women and Men in Malta towards Work-Life Balance: With a Specific Focus on Family Size. Malta: National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE). Retrieved from: https://online.fliphtml5.com/dbpti/arbk/#p=1
Burke, L., Greszler, R., & W, B. W. (2023, May 22). Education freedom and work opportunities as catalysts for increasing the birth rate among married couples. CE Think Tank Newswire. Retrieved from https://ejournals.um.edu.mt/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/wire-feeds/education-freedom-work-opportunities-as-catalysts/docview/2818103434/se-2
Drago, R., Sawyer, K., Shreffler, K. M., Warren, D., & Wooden, M. (2009). Did Australia’s Baby Bonus Increase the Fertility Rate? IDEAS Working Paper Series from RePEc.
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Greene, J. P., Ph D, & Burke, L. (2024). Education Policy Reforms Are Key Strategies for Increasing the Married Birth Rate. In CE Think Tank Newswire. ContentEngine LLC.
Reimondos, A., Allen, B., Gray, E., & Evans, A. (2025). Decomposing fertility rates – how are changing relationship patterns and increasing singlehood contributing to fertility decline? Journal of Population Research (Canberra, A.C.T.), 42(3), Article 33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12546-025-09382-1
Sinelnikov A.B. What will Increase the Birth Rate — Benefits for Families with Children or Demographic Self-Regulation?. Sotsiologicheskiy Zhurnal = Sociological Journal. 2020. Vol. 26. No. 2. P. 174-182. DOI: https://doi.org/10.19181/socjour.2020.26.2.7272 (in Russ.).
Son, Y. J. (2018). Do childbirth grants increase the fertility rate? Policy impacts in South Korea. Review of Economics of the Household, 16(3), 713–735. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11150-017-9383-z
Claire Galea is a self-employed holistic care practitioner with formal training in nursing. She is passionate about patient-centered care and public education on health and social issues. Committed to lifelong learning, Claire enjoys exploring a broad range of topics, from spirituality to contemporary affairs.
Claire is also passionate about spreading awareness on the negative effects that domestic abuse leaves on its victims’ mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing. She is the author of two downloadable ebooks, namely Heal Your Life Forever and 5 Simple Steps To Creating The Life Of Your Dreams.
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