The theme chosen to mark the day by the United Nations (UN) this year is motherhood. In this respect, the NSO found that across the decade between 1997 and 2006, live births fell by 20%. A significant decrease in the younger age groups and an increase in the older ones was also noted.  

However, 24% of Maltese are under the age of 20, with the percentage of citizens over the age of 65 standing at 14%.  

In 2006, live births rose by 1% over 2005, the majority at 53% being first tiem births to the expectant mother. A further 33% were second births. Most mothers giving birth in 2006 were aged between 25 and 29 years, while 6% of all maternities occurred among women up to 20 years old.  

The number of deaths last year was in turn the highest ever registered since 2007. The total number of deaths came around to 3,216, implying an increase of nearly 3% over those recorded 2005.  

As in previous years, the majority of deaths occurred to people over 75 years of age. However, deaths in this age group last year were three percentage points higher than the annual average for the decade between 1997 and 2006. This means that the average proportion of total deaths averaged in the past decade stood at 58%, contrasted by 61% last year.  

Registered marriages were also up in 2006, by 7%, accounting to 34% of all matrimonial unions. Most marrying couples were aged between 25 and 29.