‘A nation is made by its people’: President Myriam Spiteri Debono

A nation is made by its people, President Myriam Spiteri Debono has said, calling for continuous investment in younger generations as Malta faces mounting demographic challenges.

The President warned that fewer young people, particularly those aged 26 to 35, are choosing to start families.

Speaking at this week's State of the Nation address, the President highlighted a stark reality revealed by research presented by Vince Marmara: younger generations are reluctant to have children.

"A nation is made by its people, and we cannot stop investing in our people, in the generations that follow us, and in giving them solid values, values for their daily lives and values as people who want to progress not just nationally but internationally," she said.

The President made no reference to the recent acquittal of Yorgen Fenech from the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia in the speech.

Figures presented during the state of the nation conference showed that 254 babies were born in Malta in 2025 through scientific and medical assistance. Of the 4,368 births recorded that year, 5.8% were assisted by medical care. 

The President said this was not a small figure and suggested that reluctance to have children may stem partly from the opportunities that have opened up over the past 50 years. 

“Educational chances have expanded, and women and girls no longer face the limited roles they once did. These shifts have changed what people want from life,” she said.

Some countries have tried incentives to boost birth rates. Singapore recently introduced measures to encourage larger families, though the President noted that even they are uncertain whether such schemes will work.

The President stressed that beyond statistics and numbers, Malta is built by its people. She acknowledged that there is much work to do and progress to make but called for courage in looking ahead.

"We have built much. There is much where we work, and much where we must wake up and catch up. But let us look ahead with courage, hand in hand," she said