PUBLISHED February 28, 2026
According to “Konkursanalyse Januar 2026” published by Experian Denmark, the number of corporate bankruptcies in Denmark declined noticeably at the beginning of 2026, pointing to a relatively stable business environment despite ongoing economic uncertainty.
In January, 378 Danish companies went bankrupt, representing a 13.1% decrease compared with January 2025, when 435 firms failed. The drop suggests that the feared wave of insolvencies has not materialised at the start of the year.
Experian describes the overall picture of the Danish business sector as reasonably stable, with director Bo Rasmussen noting that the latest figures contain “no major drama” despite continued market concerns.
One of the most encouraging signals comes from the country’s largest industries. The report highlights that trade, transport and construction all recorded substantial declines in bankruptcies compared with a year earlier.
Retail saw the sharpest improvement, with bankruptcies falling 29.3% year-on-year, followed closely by transport (-28.6%) and construction (-28.4%). These sectors had previously been under pressure, so the turnaround suggests improving operating conditions across key parts of the Danish economy.
However, when measured relative to the number of active companies, transport still shows the highest bankruptcy concentration, indicating that risk has not disappeared entirely in the sector.
One of the most encouraging signals comes from the country’s largest industries. The report highlights that trade, transport and construction all recorded substantial declines in bankruptcies compared with a year earlier.
Retail saw the sharpest improvement, with bankruptcies falling 29.3% year-on-year, followed closely by transport (-28.6%) and construction (-28.4%). These sectors had previously been under pressure, so the turnaround suggests improving operating conditions across key parts of the Danish economy.
However, when measured relative to the number of active companies, transport still shows the highest bankruptcy concentration, indicating that risk has not disappeared entirely in the sector.
Despite the national decline, the regional pattern is mixed. Some areas still recorded increases in business failures, with North Jutland showing the largest relative rise, while Zealand and Lolland experienced the biggest declines compared with January last year.
Looking at a longer horizon, the picture is less uniformly positive. Over the past 12 months, eight of Denmark’s eleven regions have seen an increase in bankruptcies, underlining that underlying pressure persists in parts of the economy.
The Capital Region continues to have the highest concentration of failures, with 10.09 bankruptcies per 1,000 active companies, while Bornholm remains the least affected region.
Experian’s assessment suggests that Denmark is currently in a stabilisation phase rather than entering a strong improvement cycle. The January decline follows a period with somewhat higher bankruptcy levels, indicating volatility rather than a firmly established downward trend.
For credit managers and sales teams, this means the risk environment is improving at the margin but still requires careful monitoring — particularly in sectors that remain structurally exposed.
Looking ahead, the Danish insolvency landscape appears broadly contained, but not risk-free. The sharp year-on-year drop in January is encouraging, especially in large cyclical sectors, yet the uneven regional development and still-elevated sector concentration signal that caution remains warranted.
If economic conditions continue to stabilise, Denmark could see further moderation in business failures during 2026. However, the mixed longer-term regional data suggest that the recovery path may remain uneven.
Bottom line: Denmark started 2026 with fewer corporate bankruptcies and improving conditions in key industries. The business environment looks resilient, but underlying regional and sector risks mean the outlook remains one of cautious stability rather than full-scale relief.
Despite the national decline, the regional pattern is mixed. Some areas still recorded increases in business failures, with North Jutland showing the largest relative rise, while Zealand and Lolland experienced the biggest declines compared with January last year.
Looking at a longer horizon, the picture is less uniformly positive. Over the past 12 months, eight of Denmark’s eleven regions have seen an increase in bankruptcies, underlining that underlying pressure persists in parts of the economy.
The Capital Region continues to have the highest concentration of failures, with 10.09 bankruptcies per 1,000 active companies, while Bornholm remains the least affected region.
Experian’s assessment suggests that Denmark is currently in a stabilisation phase rather than entering a strong improvement cycle. The January decline follows a period with somewhat higher bankruptcy levels, indicating volatility rather than a firmly established downward trend.
For credit managers and sales teams, this means the risk environment is improving at the margin but still requires careful monitoring — particularly in sectors that remain structurally exposed.
Looking ahead, the Danish insolvency landscape appears broadly contained, but not risk-free. The sharp year-on-year drop in January is encouraging, especially in large cyclical sectors, yet the uneven regional development and still-elevated sector concentration signal that caution remains warranted.
If economic conditions continue to stabilise, Denmark could see further moderation in business failures during 2026. However, the mixed longer-term regional data suggest that the recovery path may remain uneven.
Bottom line: Denmark started 2026 with fewer corporate bankruptcies and improving conditions in key industries. The business environment looks resilient, but underlying regional and sector risks mean the outlook remains one of cautious stability rather than full-scale relief.
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