For the year 2024

DREM releases data marking Father’s Day

On the occasion of Father's Day, the Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira (DREM) presents a brief sociodemographic characterisation of the fathers of live births in 2024, as well as selected indicators on the use of initial parental allowance by fathers residing in the Autonomous Region of Madeira (ARM).

Information on fathers is based on data made available by Statistics Portugal (INE), resulting from the direct and exhaustive collection of birth records carried out within the framework of compulsory civil registration in the Integrated Civil Registration and Identification System (SIRIC). Information on initial parental allowance is derived from administrative data provided by Social Security.

How many men became fathers in 2024?

In 2024, 1 756 men residing in the ARM became fathers, with a total of 1 782 babies born. Of these fathers, 1 730 had one child, while 26 were fathers of twins.

Regarding the sociodemographic profile of these fathers:

• 8.4% were of foreign nationality, with Brazilian and Venezuelan nationalities being the most represented;
• 51.0% were aged between 30 and 39;
• The youngest father was 16 years old and the oldest was 64 years old;
• 41.4% had completed secondary education, 25.0% higher education, and 30.8% primary education;
• 91.4% were employed and 2.6% were unemployed.

Use of parental leave by fathers

In 2024, 1 866 fathers residing in the ARM benefited from initial parental allowance from Social Security.

In that year, an average of 43 days of allowance per father was processed, the highest value on record.

The average duration of initial parental allowance has been increasing over time. In 2010, although 1 862 fathers benefited from this allowance, the average duration was 25 days per father.

At the municipal level, some differences were observed. Fathers residing in Santana benefited, on average, from 48 days of parental allowance, while those residing in Câmara de Lobos, Porto Moniz and Calheta benefited from fewer days, averaging 39 days.

Comparison between fathers’ and mothers’ parental leave

Despite the increase in fathers’ participation in parental leave, the duration of initial parental leave taken by fathers remains lower than that of mothers.

In 2024, fathers benefited from approximately 37% of the duration of mothers’ initial parental leave. On average, fathers took 43 days, while mothers took 109 days.

However, this gap has been narrowing over time. In 2010, the average duration of fathers’ parental leave corresponded to only 18% of that of mothers.

Across municipalities, Santana recorded the highest ratio, with fathers benefiting from approximately 51% of the duration of mothers’ leave.

Note: The ratio between parental leave durations corresponds to the quotient of the average duration of fathers’ initial parental leave and that of mothers, multiplied by 100.

Average value of initial parental allowance

In 2024, the average value of initial parental allowance per father reached 1 965 euros, the highest value on record.

In that year, a total of 3.7 million euros was processed for 1866 beneficiary fathers.

The average value of this allowance has been increasing since 2010, the year in which the lowest average value was recorded (811 euros per father).

At the municipal level, fathers residing in Funchal benefited, on average, from 2 500 euros (the highest value), while those residing in Câmara de Lobos benefited from 1 350 euros on average (the lowest value).

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