The number of insolvencies of German corporations has risen by 23.5 percent within a year. From July 2025 to June 2026, 9,301 cases were recorded, after 7,533 in the same period a year earlier. There were 8.6 insolvencies per thousand companies. This is the result of an analysis by HDH Group Research of the complete population of German corporations.
The momentum has intensified over the period. In the second quarter of 2026, 2,667 cases were counted; in the second quarter of 2025 there were 2,043.
Hospitality with the highest rate
Hospitality is the most affected sector, with 24.2 insolvencies per thousand companies, an increase of 55.2 percent. Transport and storage (17.4) and Other business services (14.5) follow. In the finer breakdown, Investigation and security activities (25.5) and Food and beverage service (25.1) lead. Among the federal states, Berlin shows the highest rate at 10.0, Hamburg the lowest at 6.1.
Entrepreneurial companies and sole management particularly at risk
Entrepreneurial companies (UG) record the sharpest increase among the legal forms at 43.8 percent; their rate of 10.3 is above that of limited liability companies (8.6). Companies differ markedly by their management. If a company is run by a single person, the rate is 9.4; with three or more people it is 3.5. Companies with registered power of attorney reach 3.0, those without 8.7.
Insolvencies mainly affect young companies. Half of the companies concerned had existed for less than 8.1 years. In addition, 77,569 companies are in liquidation without insolvency; the quiet withdrawal from the market is thus far more frequent than insolvency proceedings.
Method
For each company, the most recent insolvency entry in the observation period is counted. The reference population consists of 1,083,852 companies incorporated before the beginning of the period or whose date of incorporation is unknown. Companies still registered today are covered; the reported change is therefore an upper bound.
The report
This item is based on the report “Insolvency and liquidation of German companies” by HDH Group Research. It contains all figures and tables, the definition of the population and a section on method and limitations: Insolvency and liquidation of German companies, also as PDF.
About HDH Group Research. HDH Group Research examines the structure of German corporations on the basis of its own complete database of more than one million companies. The results may be used freely provided the source is acknowledged.
Press enquiries and analyses to your own definition: info@hdhgroup.de, +43 664 2053061. The editorial team