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Germany’s Insolvencies Hit 11-Year High in 2025 as Smaller Cases Multiply

Forecasts for 2026 diverge, with any improvement hinging on lower energy prices.

Overview

  • Courts recorded 24,064 corporate insolvency filings in 2025, up 10.3% from 2024, alongside 77,219 consumer cases, an increase of 8.4%.
  • Total creditor claims declined to about €47.9 billion from €58.1 billion a year earlier due to fewer large insolvencies of €25 million or more.
  • December 2025 corporate filings rose 13.7% year over year to 2,037, signaling continued strain at the end of the year.
  • Insolvency frequency was highest in transport and storage, hospitality, and construction, with notable regional variation and some counter‑trends such as Bremen’s decline.
  • Outlooks split for 2026: the BVR sees a potential drop to roughly 23,100 cases if energy costs fall, while CRIF projects around 24,800 and reports about 10.3% of firms are currently insolvency‑endangered.