According to the results of 2025, nearly 190,000 companies ceased operations in Germany, which is about 10% higher than the previous year's figures.
According to the Leibniz Center for European Economic Research (ZEW), a significant portion of these enterprises closed due to the lack of successors among owners.
ZEW noted that the most noticeable increase in the number of closed enterprises was recorded in the restaurant and hotel sector, automotive industry, and medical practice. “It is noteworthy that only one in eight closures is explained by bankruptcy — 13%. More and more financially stable companies are voluntarily ceasing operations. In addition to economic difficulties, the dynamics of business closures are also influenced by the lack of qualified labor, high costs, and the absence of successors for business transfer,” the study conducted in collaboration with Creditreform states.
ZEW employee Sandra Gottschalk explained that the statistics indicate ongoing pressure on the German economy, including due to high energy prices. She noted that there is a shortage of personnel in almost all sectors, and demographic trends related to an aging population are leading to family businesses being left without successors. In 2025, nearly one-third of the leaders of closed family businesses were over 65 years old, while in 2002 this figure was 14%.
