Bankruptcies up by over 30 percent in 2024

Year | Week | Number of bankruptcies |
---|---|---|
2021 | January | 172 |
2021 | February | 143 |
2021 | March | 165 |
2021 | April | 193 |
2021 | May | 163 |
2021 | June | 139 |
2021 | July | 125 |
2021 | August | 109 |
2021 | September | 141 |
2021 | October | 126 |
2021 | November | 183 |
2021 | December | 159 |
2022 | January | 139 |
2022 | February | 182 |
2022 | March | 166 |
2022 | April | 119 |
2022 | May | 189 |
2022 | June | 164 |
2022 | July | 148 |
2022 | August | 148 |
2022 | September | 174 |
2022 | October | 219 |
2022 | November | 228 |
2022 | December | 269 |
2023 | January | 225 |
2023 | February | 274 |
2023 | March | 210 |
2023 | April | 236 |
2023 | May | 252 |
2023 | June | 298 |
2023 | July | 254 |
2023 | August | 265 |
2023 | September | 293 |
2023 | October | 285 |
2023 | November | 295 |
2023 | December | 385 |
2024 | January | 366 |
2024 | February | 340 |
2024 | March | 333 |
2024 | April | 354 |
2024 | May | 336 |
2024 | June | 373 |
2024 | July | 398 |
2024 | August | 325 |
2024 | September | 363 |
2024 | October | 321 |
2024 | November | 345 |
2024 | December | 318 |
Number of bankruptcies did not increase further during 2024
The number of corporate bankruptcies (adjusted for court session days) fluctuates substantially, with rapid ups and downs. The number peaked in May 2013 (911). After that, a decline started and a record low was reached in August 2021, at 109 bankruptcies. The number of bankruptcies then gradually increased again until 2024. The number of bankruptcies did not increase further during 2024. In December 2024, the number of bankruptcies was lower than in the same month a year earlier. This is the first time that this has been the case since May 2022.
4,270 companies declared bankrupt in 2024
Over 2024 as a whole, a total of 4,270 businesses and institutions (including sole proprietorships) were declared bankrupt. This was 30.5 percent more than in 2023, when the number was 3,272. The number of bankruptcies in 2024 was the highest in 8 years. The peak of 9,431 bankruptcies was reached in 2013 during the euro crisis. In 2021, bankruptcies reached their lowest level (1,818) since the start of the survey in 1981.
Number | |
---|---|
2010 | 7147 |
2011 | 6883 |
2012 | 8346 |
2013 | 9431 |
2014 | 7621 |
2015 | 6006 |
2016 | 5012 |
2017 | 3867 |
2018 | 3633 |
2019 | 3792 |
2020 | 3177 |
2021 | 1818 |
2022 | 2145 |
2023 | 3272 |
2024 | 4270 |
Sharpest increase recorded in specialised business services
In 2024, just as in the previous years, most bankruptcies occurred in the trade sector (811). This was followed by the construction sector and the specialised business services sector, with 618 and 509 bankruptcies respectively. These sectors are also the largest in terms of number of businesses.
The number of bankruptcies increased year on year in virtually all sectors. In absolute terms, the specialised business services sector recorded the sharpest year-on-year increase: a rise of 157. The number of bankruptcies was higher than a year earlier, especially in activities of head offices, management consultancy activities, architectural and engineering activities. With an increase of 139 bankruptcies, construction came in second. The increase is mainly attributable to specialised construction (including construction installation and finishing companies). In trade, the increase was 129. This mainly concerned wholesale companies.
2024 | 2023 | |
---|---|---|
Trade | 811 | 682 |
Construction | 618 | 479 |
Specialised business services | 509 | 352 |
Financial services | 381 | 306 |
Accommodation and food services | 377 | 267 |
Manufacturing | 351 | 270 |
Transportation and storage | 301 | 237 |
Renting and other business services | 261 | 170 |
Information and communication | 167 | 123 |
Care | 158 | 104 |
Other service activities | 75 | 73 |
Real estate activities | 71 | 66 |
Arts, sports and recreation | 70 | 59 |
Education | 42 | 45 |
Agriculture, forestry and fisheries | 26 | 21 |
Sources
- StatLine - Bankruptcies, adjusted for court session days
- StatLine - Bankruptcies; enterprises, SIC 2008
- StatLine - Bankruptcies; enterprises, regions
Related items
- Dossier - Business cycle