There are more than 12,000 single parents caring for almost 18,000 children across Malta and Gozo, data tabled in parliament has shown. 

Family Affairs Minister Michael Farrugia told parliament that 12,472 single parents cared for 17,898 children.

Of those, 9,536 are single mothers responsible for 13,635 children while the 2,936 single fathers care for 4,173 children. Dr Farrugia was answering a question by Nationalist MP Chris Said. 

The minister also pointed out that there were 396 single mothers in Gozo with 574 children and 139 single fathers with 203 children.

Domestic violence

There were 4,648 reports of cases of domestic violence between June 2013 and December 2016.

Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela told Robert Cutajar (PN) that 3,565 reports were lodged by females and 1,083 by males.

Women filed 536 reports in 2013, with the numbers rising to 886, 1,032 and 1,111 in the subsequent three years. There were 165 reports by men in 2013 and 268, 315 and 335 in the subsequent years.