VALLETTA( MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta recorded a government deficit of €339 million during the first quarter of 2026, while public debt climbed to nearly €11.5 billion, according to figures released by the National Statistics Office.

Government expenditure rose sharply to €2.3 billion between January and March, almost €300 million higher than in the same period a year earlier.

The increase was driven in part by higher intermediate consumption, which includes spending on goods and services such as utilities, maintenance, raw materials and operational services. These costs increased by almost €100 million year-on-year.

Spending on government employees also grew significantly, reaching €644 million, up €35 million from the final quarter of 2025.

Government revenue totalled just over €2 billion during the quarter, slightly above the level recorded a year earlier.

Tax receipts included more than €800 million from income taxes and around €600 million from taxes on production and imports.

Total government debt stood at €11.45 billion at the end of the quarter, an increase of €549 million compared with the same period last year.

Despite the rise in nominal debt, the debt-to-GDP ratio continued to decline, falling to 45.9% from around 46.5% recorded through much of last year.

The ratio remains comfortably below the European Union’s 60% debt threshold, marking the first time in several years that Malta’s debt burden has dropped below 46% of GDP.

– Photo Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).

Source: medNews