Handelsblatt: the number of bankruptcies in Germany will be the highest since 2014.
Germany is set to face the highest number of corporate bankruptcies since 2014, and there are no guarantees that the situation will improve by 2026. This was reported by Handelsblatt, citing a study conducted by Creditreform.
According to the study, by the end of 2025, 23,900 companies will declare bankruptcy. This is more than eight percent higher than the figures for 2024. In comparison, in 2014, nearly 24,100 companies went bankrupt in Germany, according to official data.
Experts attribute the current dynamics to high corporate debts, difficulties in obtaining new loans, and expensive energy resources. Companies with ten or fewer employees are suffering the most, accounting for four out of five bankruptcy cases. However, in 2025, 140 larger companies also went bankrupt, including several hospital operators. The total damage from all bankruptcy cases amounts to approximately 57 billion euros. It is estimated that this year, 285,000 jobs could be lost due to bankruptcies.
Moreover, the negative trend is also affecting ordinary citizens. It is forecasted that the number of personal bankruptcies will increase by 6.5 percent in 2025, reaching approximately 76,300 — the highest figure since 2016.
In 2024, a total of 196,100 businesses closed in Germany. This is a 16 percent increase compared to 2023.
