Germany sees surge in bankruptcies, surpassing 2009 crisis levels

In Germany, 4,573 companies filed for insolvency in the first quarter of 2026, marking the highest level since the early 2000s, according to data cited by Halle Institute for Economic Research.

The figures, reported by German media, indicate that the number of corporate bankruptcies this year has surpassed levels seen during the 2009 global financial crisis.

The increase has been particularly pronounced in the construction sector and retail trade, where March alone recorded record highs.

At the same time, the number of employees affected by insolvencies declined compared with the previous month and with March a year earlier. Analysts attribute this to a higher incidence of closures among small firms with relatively few staff, limiting the overall employment impact.

By Aghakazim Guliyev