Despite a decline in the third quarter, the number of bankruptcies has been rising since the beginning of the year.
According to the latest figures from the Ministry of Justice/STATEC, 248 companies were declared bankrupt and 38 were liquidated in the third quarter of 2025.
Bankruptcies
The number of bankruptcies fell in the third quarter of 2025 (248 compared to 261 judgements in the third quarter of 2024, a decrease of 5%). Over the first nine months of 2025, the number of bankruptcies rose slightly by 1.6% (828 compared to 815 rulings between January and September 2024). This trend remains similar, with an increase of 1.8% when holding companies and investment funds are excluded.
Impact on salaried employment by sector
According to initial estimates, bankruptcies led to the loss of 2,310 salaried jobs in the first three quarters of 2025, compared with 2,298 in the same period in 2024. The highest number of bankruptcies (221) concerned holding companies and investment funds.
The trade sector saw 126 bankruptcies in the first three quarters of 2025, three more than in the same period in 2024, resulting in around 300 job losses.
The construction sector recorded 115 bankruptcies in the first three quarters of 2025, 26 fewer than in the same period in 2024 (-18%). The loss of salaried jobs is estimated at 590, down 41%, representing around 25% of the total loss of salaried jobs linked to bankruptcies over this period.
There were 89 bankruptcies in the hospitality sector, one fewer than in the same period in 2024, representing virtually no change, with the loss of some 373 salaried jobs (-13%).
There was also a significant increase in salaried job losses in the ‘administrative and support services’ sector, amounting to 518 during the first three quarters of 2025 (+225%). This increase is mainly due to the bankruptcy of a single company in September.
Graph 1: Number of bankruptcies per month since January 2018
Liquidations
Liquidations rose in the first three quarters of 2025 (+59%). However, it should be noted that the number of liquidations in 2024 was exceptionally low. 38% of companies liquidated during the period under review were holding companies and investment funds, and 17% were in the trade sector.
Graph 2: Number of liquidations per month since January 2018
All these topics can be consulted in the STATEC ‘Bankruptcies and Liquidations’ Dashboard, published on 14 October 2025. The bankruptcy statistics are based on court decisions recorded in the Commercial Register, with the most recent data dating from 13 October 2025.
The number of bankruptcies is calculated as the sum of ‘openings’ or “reopenings” minus bankruptcies reported in the judicial procedure ‘judgments and declarations of bankruptcy’. These figures are provisional.
Contact
Bureau de presse/Press office | +352 247-84219 | info@statec.etat.lu
This publication was produced by Laurent Bley.
STATEC would like to thank all the contributors to this publication.
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