Home / Business and Politics / In Europe, More Bankruptcies Than Ever, in Croatia the Opposite

In Europe, More Bankruptcies Than Ever, in Croatia the Opposite

The European economy is facing a growing number of bankruptcies, while Croatia shows a contrary trend. According to the latest data from Eurostat, in the third quarter of 2025, the number of bankruptcy filings in the European Union increased by 4.4 percent compared to the previous quarter. This marks the third consecutive increase, continuing the trend of rising corporate insolvencies in Europe.

In Croatia, according to the same data, the number of bankruptcies is decreasing. The bankruptcy index in the first quarter of 2024 was 94.5, while in the third quarter of 2025 it fell to 80.9. During the same period at the EU level, the index rose from 160.8 to 177.4. Thus, while bankruptcies in the European Union increased by about 10 percent from the first quarter of 2024 to the third quarter of 2025, in Croatia they fell by 14 percent during the same period.

According to a study on insolvency by the Austrian debt collection and risk management company Acredia, from January to August 2025, Croatia registered 2,610 bankruptcies, a decrease compared to the same period last year when 3,301 cases were registered.

The increase in the number of bankruptcies in the EU is most pronounced in the accommodation and hospitality sectors (+20.75), transport (+18.7%), and financial services (+14.1%). A decline in the number of bankruptcies was recorded in the information and communication sector, construction, and industry. The trend of rising insolvencies is also confirmed by an analysis from Scope Ratings, which states that business failures in most EU member states continued to rise throughout 2025.

Alongside the rise in insolvencies, the number of newly registered businesses in the European Union is also increasing. In the third quarter of 2025, the number of new registrations increased by four percent compared to the previous quarter. The largest growth is recorded in the information and communication, construction, and transport sectors.

In Croatia, in contrast, the number of newly opened businesses remains almost unchanged. The registration index in the first quarter of 2024 was 129.7, and in the third quarter of 2025, it was 129.8.

While Europe simultaneously records both an increase in business formations and an increase in business closures, the Croatian economy remains stable, without significant fluctuations.

Tagged: