Number of bankruptcies at a historically low level

The number of business bankruptcies (excluding sole proprietorships), adjusted for hearing days, is expected to fluctuate significantly. The ups and downs follow one another quickly. The number of bankruptcies peaked in May 2013 (816). The number then decreased until August 2017 inclusive. Thereafter, the trend remained fairly stable until July 2020. Since then, the trend has been declining. In December 2020, the number of bankruptcies (on a monthly basis) reached its lowest level since February 1991.

The number of bankruptcies in 2020 down 16% year on year

Over the whole of 2020, a total of 2,703 bankruptcies were declared. This represents a decline of 16% year-on-year. Many companies were affected by the coronavirus crisis in 2020, but the number of bankruptcies was at its lowest for 20 years.

The number of bankruptcies peaked in 2013 at 8,376 and then fell for five consecutive years. In 2019, the number of bankruptcies increased slightly, but the level was still relatively low. In 2020, the number of bankruptcies fell again, reaching its lowest level in 20 years. The fact that fewer companies were declared bankrupt during the coronavirus period cannot be seen in isolation from government support.

The biggest drop in trade

The number of bankruptcies has declined in almost all sectors. In absolute terms, the decline was most pronounced in the trade sector. Its total decreased by 149, from 730 in 2019 to 581 in 2020. In the wholesale, retail and trade and repair of motor vehicles, the number of bankruptcies fell by 69, 41 and 39, respectively. , the specialist business services sector (including research and consultancy firms) fell by 107. In relative terms, healthcare (health and welfare) was among the sectors with the largest decline.

However, the accommodation and food services sector faced the biggest increase: 39 bankruptcies. In accommodation services (including hotels) the number of bankruptcies increased by 25 and in food services (including restaurants and cafes) by 14. A relatively large number of bankruptcies were declared in the second quarter 2020.

As in previous years, most bankruptcies were declared in the commerce sector (581) in 2020. Commerce is one of the sectors with the largest number of companies.