251 children were in foster care in 2019, the Minister for Social Justice, the Family and Children’s Rights Michael Falzon said in reply to a parliamentary question.

Girls accounted for 129 of the total sum, while 122 were boys.

The total number of foster carers in 2019 was also 251, with 173 of those being non-related foster carers and 78 kinship foster carers.

The number of children in foster care has increased significantly over the years. Between 1996 and 2002, the number of children in foster care was less than 100.

Between 2003 and 2009 the numbers vary between 100 and 200 children. From 2010 onwards, the amount of children in foster care has always surpassed 200, with the highest number recorded being in 2012, when 281 children were in foster care.

The number of children in foster care over the past 10 years are as follows: 212 children in 2010; 259 children in 2011; 281 children in 2012; 239 children in 2013; 239 children in 2014; 216 children in 2015; 243 children in 2016; 230 children in 2017; 244 children in 2018 and; 251 children in 2019.

In 2019, there were also 27 foster care cases which were terminated. eight children returned to their birth families, eight were moved to residential care, one moved for adoption, nine had their 21st birthday and one case had the approval revoked.