Germany’s business landscape demonstrated a mixed performance in the first half of 2025, according to data released Friday by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis). New business formations increased notably, while instances of complete business closures also rose.
Approximately 67,600 larger-scale enterprises were founded in the first six months of the year, representing a 9.4 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024. This suggests a continued drive for entrepreneurial activity within the German economy.
However, Destatis also reported a 6.6 percent increase in the number of complete business closures of larger enterprises, reaching around 51,800. This indicates a concurrent rise in businesses ceasing operations.
Overall, new business registrations, encompassing sole proprietorships and smaller ventures, totaled around 325,300, a 4.6 percent increase year-on-year. Total business registrations – including new formations, transfers of ownership, conversions and relocations – rose by 3.4 percent to approximately 386,600.
Complete business terminations reached around 246,900, marking a 1.6 percent increase compared to the first half of 2024. Total business deregistrations, which also include transfers, conversions and relocations, increased by 0.8 percent to around 304,700.
The data provides a complex picture of business dynamics in Germany, revealing both growth in new ventures and a simultaneous increase in business dissolutions and transitions.