Malta registered the fourth largest decrease in national debt in the first quarter of the year, according to statistics provided by the European Union.

Malta’s national debt dropped to 65.3% of gross domestic product, a 3.3% reduction when compared to the previous year, the government said.

In March 2013, national debt had risen to 70.8%, a 10.5% increase in the previous legislature. In the present term, this has fallen by 5.5%, the government added.