In the EU25 in 2006, the number of children aged up to compulsory school age was estimated at around 30 million. Among these children, 26% of those less than three years old were attending formal childcare, while the percentage rose to 84% among those three years old to compulsory school age. The children not attending formal childcare were cared for by a parent, child minders or relatives, friends etc.
The shares for attending formal childcare differed significantly among Member States. For children aged less than three the highest percentages were recorded in Denmark (73%), the Netherlands (45%) and Sweden (44%), and the lowest in the Czech Republic and Poland (both 2%), Malta stood at 8%. For children aged three to compulsory school age, the highest proportions were observed in Belgium (98%), Denmark (96%) and France (94%), and the lowest in Poland (28%), Lithuania (56%), Malta stood at 57%.
Denmark has the highest share of children attending formal childcare for 30 hours or more a week
In the age group less than three, 14% of children were attending formal childcare for between 1 and 29 hours a week and 12% for 30 hours a week or more in the EU25 in 2006. The highest percentages of those who attended for between 1 and 29 hours a week were recorded in the Netherlands (41%), the United Kingdom (28%) and Spain (20%) Malta stood at 5%. For childcare of 30 hours a week or more, the highest shares were observed in Denmark (66%), Portugal (32%) and Sweden (27%), Malta stood at 3%.
For those between three and compulsory school age, 44% were attending formal childcare for between 1 to 29 hours a week and 40% for 30 hours a week or more in the EU25 in 2006. For childcare between 1 to 29 hours a week, the highest shares were observed in the Netherlands (82%), Ireland (80%) and Germany (66%), Malta stood at 32%. For 30 hours or more a week, the highest percentages were recorded in Denmark (80%), Estonia (78%), Italy, Portugal and Slovenia (66% each), Malta stood at 25%.
These figures are published by Eurostat, the Statistical Office of the European Communities.
1 Comment To "Malta has one of lowest childcare rates in the EU"
#1 Comment By Sabine On December 5, 2008 @ 10:13 pm
Hardly surprising if it’s almost non-existent… Next they’ll marvel at how little childcare costs – and probably will omit to mention how ridiculous our wages are!