The number of persons who have experienced marital breakdown in the past decade has increased by a staggering 162 per cent, in a clear sign of change across the landscape of Maltese society.
The number of separated people has increased from 5,098 in 1995 to 13,354 persons in 2005, according to the census of the Maltese population carried out in 2005.
Separated, divorced and persons whose marriage was annulled now account for four per cent of adults aged over 16, and for nearly seven per cent of persons aged 30-50.
The rapid rise in the number of separated persons is bound to create ripples in the political establishment where divorce is still considered taboo and cohabitation rights are not recognised.
In 1995 these accounted for just 1.7 per cent of those over 16 years of age. Over the decade, the number of married persons has decreased from 63 per cent to 59 per cent of the adult population.
With only 2.2 per cent of its adult population separated, divorced or annulled, Gozo has the lowest amount of persons who passed trough a marital breakdown. Only 548 persons whose marriage went up in smoke, live in Gozo.
Another region with a low rate of breakdowns is the west incorporating Attard, Zebbug, Lija and Balzan. Only 2.6 per cent of its adult population are separated, divorced or annulled. In the south-eastern region (Zejtun and Marsaskala) the number rises to 3.3 per cent.
The northern region, which includes St Paul’s Bay, Mosta and Mellieha, boasts the highest amount of separated persons which amount to five per cent of its adult population.
The north harbour region – Sliema, Birkarkara and Qormi – comes third with a rate of 4.8 per cent, followed by the south harbour region which includes Cottonera at 4.6 per cent.
The census also gives an indication of different forms of families emerging in Malta: 3,605 households in Malta consist of a single parent and one or more dependent children. It also lists 2,538 persons as the “unmarried partner” of the “reference person” interviewed in the census. This would give a total of 5,076 persons living in cohabitation.
617 other persons are listed as “friends” of the reference person interviewed and a further 1,737 have an unspecified “other” relationship with the respondent of the survey. This would give a total of 9,784 persons living in unorthodox households composed of unmarried partners, friends and “other relationships”.

jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt

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NEWS | Wednesday, 15 August 2007

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