Non-performing loans in Europe - statistics & facts
During downturns and periods of economic uncertainty, non-performing loans (NPL) are good indicators of how stressed are the financial institutions of a given country. The term NPL refers to loans whose repayment has been past due for a certain period. During the past decade, the value of NPLs in Europe has been decreasing in almost every quarter. There are, however, important differences between regions, with countries in the south of Europe traditionally having a higher share of their loans past due. There are also differences between economic sectors. In 2025, the value of NPLs to businesses in the European Economic Area was higher than that to households.
