One in ten residents in Madeira aged between 18 and 74 regularly provides care for a dependent family member aged 15 or over, a rate above the national average of 7.1%. The figures were released this Wednesday by the Regional Directorate of Statistics of Madeira (DREM) in its Reconciliation of Professional and Family Life module, which looks at how families manage work alongside caregiving duties. The study found that 30.9% of those caring for dependent relatives spend 30 hours or more each week on support, compared with 28% nationally. It also showed that 23.1% of Madeirans aged between 18 and 74 care for children under the age of 15, close to the national average of 22.6%, while only 3.7% care for grandchildren in that age group versus 5.2% across Portugal. Use of childcare services is lower in Madeira, with 41.8% of respondents with children under 15 saying they regularly rely on nurseries, kindergartens or similar services, compared with 51.6% nationally. Among families that do not use formal childcare, 10.8% said children are sometimes left unsupervised and look after themselves. The report also pointed to work-related pressures, with 11.1% of workers with caring responsibilities citing long working hours and 11% mentioning unpredictable or irregular schedules as major obstacles. The survey, carried out in 2025 as part of the Employment Survey, underlines the strain created by an ageing population and the continuing challenge of balancing employment, family life and care in Madeira.
