The number of corporate insolvencies in Germany has risen to a 20-year high.

Error detected

The claim states that corporate insolvencies have reached a 20-year high. In reality, the 2025 figure of approximately 23,900 is the highest since 2014 — roughly an 11-year high — and remains far below the annual totals recorded between 2003 and 2006 (34,000–39,000+).

Omissions

• The MEP did not cite any source for the claimed figure.
• All available sources published before and around the session date describe the insolvency peak as a 10- to 12-year high, not a 20-year high. The early 2000s (2003–2006) saw substantially higher corporate insolvency numbers — around 34,000 to 39,000 per year — meaning the current level does not approach a 20-year record.
• The claim exaggerates the historical significance of the current insolvency wave.

Sources

• SecondaryReutersApproximately 23,900 companies are expected to file for bankruptcy in 2025, an 8.3% increase from 2024 and the highest figure since 2014.
• SecondaryDeutsche Welle (DW)Business bankruptcies have climbed to an 11-year high, with small firms hardest hit by Germany's anemic growth.
• SecondaryFEBISThe number of insolvent companies in Germany reached its highest level in more than ten years in 2025. During the year, 23,900 companies filed for insolvency – an increase of 8.3 percent compared to the previous year (22,070 cases).
• SecondaryTrading EconomicsBankruptcies in Germany averaged 1675.19 Companies from 1975 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 3755.00 Companies in March of 2004. March 2026 figure: 2308 Companies.