In 2022, there were 1,598 bankruptcies/insolvencies of companies issued by the courts of first instance, a reduction of 62.4% compared to 2015.

Considering quarterly data, the lowest number of bankruptcies (365) was recorded in the 3rd quarter of 2022. Between 2015 and 2022, the average number of bankruptcies per quarter fell from 1 061 to 400.

The sectors of Trade and Industry and energy concentrated 44.3% of the total bankruptcies in 2022, while Financial activities, Information and communication and Agriculture and fishing did not reach 6%, as a whole.

By geographic location, the Norte, Área Metropolitana de Lisboa and Centro regions accounted for 87.7% of all bankruptcies in 2022 (43.9%, 24.7% and 19.1%, respectively).

The analysis of the economic performance of companies that went bankrupt in 2022 shows a significant decrease in the main indicators in recent years, the last two corresponding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Between 2019 and 2021, the number of persons employed in these companies decreased by 32.8% (-5,572 employees) and the apparent labour productivity declined by 36.6% (-5,271 euros per person employed). As of 2020 and more significantly in 2021, the value of these companies liabilities exceeded the value of their assets, with a consequent decrease in equity.