The district courts decided to initiate bankruptcies in 6,849 companies in 2022, an increase by 6 percent compared to 2021. The number of employees affected by the bankruptcies was 16,159, an increase by 53 percent from 2021.

Summary

In addition to corporate bankruptcies, 110 private individuals were declared bankrupt in 2022, compared to 109 private individuals in 2021. The number of bankruptcies in estates was 340, compared to 329 the year before.

Hearings on compositions without bankruptcies amounted to 146 companies with 5,827 employees. The corresponding numbers in 2021 were 164 companies and 4,099 employees.

Bankruptcies by industry

Bankruptcies increased in 2022 in all major industry groups except in transport and warehousing and agriculture, forestry and fishing. The greatest increase was in the retail industry. The increase in bankruptcies was particularly large in the last few months of the year in some industries, namely construction, accommodation and restaurant business and education, health care and other personal services. The number of employees affected by bankruptcies increased in most industry groups, except in transport and warehousing.

In agriculture, forestry and fishing, bankruptcies were initiated in 67 companies, compared to 68 in 2021. In relation to the number of existing companies in the industry 0.03 percent were declared bankrupt, which affected 0.01 percent of all employees in the industry. The number of employees in bankrupt companies were 105, compared to 52 in 2021.

In the manufacturing industry, bankruptcies increased by 4 percent. 329 companies were declared bankrupt which affected 1,252 employees, compared to 861 employees in 2021. Bankruptcies equaled 0.6 percent of companies in the industry and affected 0.2 percent of employees. In the construction industry, bankruptcies were initiated in 1,262 companies, an increase by 0.2 percent. Bankruptcies affected 3,933 employees, compared to 3,289 employees in 2021. Bankruptcies equaled 1.0 percent of companies in the industry and affected 1.1 percent of employees.

Bankruptcies in the retail industry and accommodation and restaurant business increased by 18 and 5 percent respectively. The number of bankruptcies was 1,498 in retail and 660 in accommodation and restaurant business. Bankruptcies equaled 1.1 percent of companies in the retail industry and 1.8 percent of companies in accommodation and restaurant business. The number of employees affected by bankruptcies increased in both industries, but from low numbers in 2021. 2,100 employees were affected by bankruptcies in the retail industry, which equaled 0.3 percent of employees in the industry. 1,672 employees were affected by bankruptcies in accommodation and restaurant business, which equaled 0.7 of employees in the industry.

In transport and warehousing, the number of bankruptcies amounted to 325, a decrease by 7 percent. Bankruptcies equaled 1.0 of companies in the industry and affected 0.3 percent of employees. 731 employees were affected by bankruptcies, a decrease from 894 employees in 2021.

In the information and communication and financial, real estate and corporate services industries, bankruptcies increased by 6 and 4 percent respectively. The number of bankruptcies was 285 in information and accommodation and 1,392 in financial, real estate and corporate services. Bankruptcies equaled 0.4 percent of companies and 0.2 percent of employees in both industries. In information and communication, 379 employees were affected by bankruptcies, compared to 136 employees in 2021. In financial, real estate and corporate services, 1,813 employees were affected by bankruptcies, compared to 1,509 employees in 2021.

In education, health care and personal services, bankruptcies were initiated in 582 companies, an increase by 2 percent. Bankruptcies affected 4,171 employees, compared to 859 in 2021. The increase was caused by bankruptcies in a few large companies. The number of bankruptcies equaled 0.3 percent of all companies and affected 0.2 of employees in the industry.

Bankruptcies by county

Bankruptcies increased in 15 of Sweden’s 21 counties. In the three urban counties, Stockholm County, Västra Götaland County and Skåne County, bankruptcies increased by 7, 6 and 2 percent respectively. The respective number of bankruptcies in these counties was 2,376, 1,001 and 946. The number of employees affected by bankruptcies was 5,224 in Stockholm County, 2,135 in Västra Götaland County and 1,754 in Skåne County. This represented an increase from 3,773, 1,631 and 1,481 employees in the respective counties in 2021.

Bankruptcies by number of employees

74 percent of bankruptcies were initiated in companies with no employees, which is the same share as in 2021. Bankruptcies in companies with no employees increased by 4 percent. Concurrently, bankruptcies in companies with at least one employee increased by 74 percent. Bankruptcies increased in companies of all size groups, except in companies with one employee where they decreased by 10 percent.

Bankruptcies by legal form

Just over 90 percent of bankruptcies were initiated in limited companies. 8 percent of bankruptcies were among sole traders and 2 percent among other legal forms. Bankruptcies in limited companies increased by 8 percent.

Hearings on compositions without bankruptcies

Hearings on compositions without bankruptcies amounted to 146 companies with 5,827 employees. The corresponding numbers in 2021 were 164 companies and 4,099 employees.