VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta’s economy expanded by 3.9% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period last year, according to provisional figures released by the National Statistics Office (NSO).
The NSO said gross domestic product (GDP) reached €6.2 billion between January and March, up by €402.2 million, or 7%, over the first quarter of 2025.
The services sector remained the main driver of growth, contributing 3.5 percentage points to the overall increase in gross value added. Industry added 0.3 percentage points, while agriculture and fishing registered a slight decline.
Financial and insurance activities recorded the strongest growth at 9%, followed by information and communication at 5.3%, and professional, scientific and technical activities at 4.7%.
Domestic demand accounted for most of the expansion, contributing 3.6 percentage points to GDP growth, while external demand added 0.3 percentage points. Household spending rose by 3.8%, government expenditure increased by 8.5%, and investment climbed by 3.6%.
Exports of goods and services grew by 4.9%, while imports increased by 5.6%.
The GDP deflator, a measure of economy-wide price changes, rose by 3% compared with the same quarter last year.
Gross national income for the quarter was estimated at €5.6 billion.
In a statement, the government described the figures as evidence of Malta’s economic resilience, noting that growth outpaced the euro area average.
Prime Minister Robert Abela said Malta’s economy had grown “about five times” faster than the euro area in the first quarter, while workers’ income rose at more than double the rate of GDP growth.
The government also highlighted strong performance in the digital sector, financial services, professional services, and hospitality.
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
