A record number of Austrian companies became insolvent in 2025, with a 144 percent increase in bankruptcies since 2021, according to data released by the information services provider CRIF.
A total of 7,392 firms declared insolvency last year, up 8.5 percent from the 6,813 recorded in 2024. The surge marks a significant escalation in financial distress across the country’s business landscape. The trend began in 2021, when only 3,030 companies went insolvent.
January 2025 proved to be the most challenging month in the past 60, with 760 companies filing for insolvency. CRIF’s analysis points to a sustained economic downturn, characterized by weak performance and ongoing crises. High energy and labor costs, geopolitical instability and recessionary pressures have collectively weighed on Austrian businesses.
“The companies in Austria were still under massive pressure in 2025. The economic conditions have not relaxed, and many businesses could no longer withstand the burdens,” stated Anca Eisner-Schwarz, Managing Director of CRIF Austria.
Whereas the Austrian economy is experiencing a cautious recovery, driven primarily by domestic consumption – particularly public spending and a slight increase in private expenditure – the export sector remains subdued, hindering broader economic growth. CRIF anticipates that insolvency levels will likely stabilize in 2026 rather than experience a significant decline.
Vienna recorded the highest number of insolvencies in 2025, with 2,741 cases, solidifying its position as the insolvency capital of Austria. Niederösterreich followed with 1,214, then Oberösterreich (887), Steiermark (761), Tirol (519), Salzburg (471), Kärnten (451), Vorarlberg (191), and Burgenland (157). Vienna also exhibited the highest insolvency density, with 190 insolvencies per 10,000 companies, exceeding the national average of 123.
Regional variations were notable. Burgenland was the only federal state to report a decrease in insolvencies, with a decline of 20.3 percent. Other regions experienced increases, ranging from a modest 1.3 percent in Vienna and 1.5 percent in Steiermark to more substantial gains in Vorarlberg (14.4 percent), Kärnten (16.8 percent), and Oberösterreich (21.0 percent). Salzburg and Tirol saw the most significant increases, with 35.0 percent and 44.6 percent respectively.
Specific sectors faced particularly acute challenges. The retail trade experienced a 9.6 percent increase in insolvencies, totaling 1,388 cases in 2025. The hospitality industry also struggled, with 937 insolvencies, representing a 13.3 percent rise. Logistics companies saw a 5.8 percent increase, reaching 580 insolvencies, while other business services recorded 647 insolvencies, up 5.7 percent. The construction sector, however, showed a slight improvement, with a 2.7 percent decrease to 1,136 insolvencies.
Preliminary data from Statistik Austria for the fourth quarter of 2025 indicates 1,669 insolvencies, a decrease of 2.2 percent compared to the same period in 2024. However, the overall trend remains upward when considering the full year and the longer-term trajectory since 2021.
