Industry Statistics and Trends
Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Europe key trends
Lending activity edges upwards.
Following weak lending activity over the three years through 2024, interest rate cuts and growing confidence is set to ramp up demand for credit and drive demand for credit bureaus and debt collection agencies in 2025.
Credit bureaux and collection agencies embrace AI.
Companies are investing in AI to protect themselves against fraud and unauthorised alterations of credit and debt-related data.
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Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Europe
Industry Revenue
Total value and annual change from 2012-2030. Includes 5-year outlook.
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Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Europe market size (2020-2025)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €24.2bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Growing confidence lifts demand for consumer credit
- Debts collected from consumers mostly originate from credit cards, personal loans and overdrafts.
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Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Europe outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Debt collectors place a greater emphasis on sustainable practices
- Collection agencies in Europe are set to prioritise environmentally sustainable practices to reduce their carbon footprint. Implementing paperless processes, digital communication methods and energy-efficient technologies will all help companies align with eco-friendly standards. Embracing sustainability not only benefits the environment but also enhances consumer trust and loyalty, helping to draw in more business.
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Revenue
€24.2bn
Employees
115k
Wages
€X.Xbn
European Leaders & Laggards
Top 5 Countries
Bottom 5 Countries
* CAGR values are for the years 2020-2025.
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Biggest companies in the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Europe
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (€m)
2025 | Profit (€m)
2025 | Profit Margin (%)
2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Experian plc | 6,829.5 | 1,641.6 | 24.0 | |
Lowell Group | 1,621.0 | 892.5 | 55.1 | |
Intrum AB | 1,723.0 | 721.6 | 41.9 |
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Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Europe
Products & Services Segmentation
Industry revenue broken down by key product and services lines.
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Top Questions Answered in this Report
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What is the market size of the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus industry in Europe in 2025?
The market size of the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus industry in Europe is €24.2bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus industry in Europe in 2025?
There are 11,134 businesses in the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus industry in Europe, which has grown at a CAGR of 1.7 % between 2020 and 2025.
Has the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus industry in Europe grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus industry in Europe has been growing at a CAGR of 2.3 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus industry in Europe over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus industry in Europe is expected to grow.
What does the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus industry in Europe include?
Credit reporting and Debt rating are part of the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus industry in Europe.
Which countries have the most businesses in the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus industry in Europe?
The European country with the most businesses in the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus industry is Turkey.
How competitive is the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus industry in Europe?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus industry in Europe.
Related Industries
This industry is covered in 37 countries
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Greece
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Romania
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Hungary
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Denmark
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Norway
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Poland
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Malta
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Croatia
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Slovenia
- Debt Collection Agencies in the UK
- Credit Bureaux & Rating Agencies in the UK
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Germany
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Austria
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in France
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Italy
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in the UK
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Sweden
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Lithuania
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Germany
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Latvia
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Luxembourg
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Russia
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Turkey
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Slovakia
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Ireland
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Finland
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in North Macedonia
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Bulgaria
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Spain
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Portugal
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in the Netherlands
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Belgium
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Cyprus
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Serbia
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Estonia
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Iceland
- Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Europe
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
This industry involves the activities of collection agencies and credit bureaux, such as the collection of payments and the compiling of information on credit and employment histories.
Related Terms
MandateTitleDurable GoodsWhat's included in this industry?
Credit reportingDebt ratingContingent-fee servicingPortfolio-acquisition servicingFixed-fee servicingCollateral recoveryCompanies
Experian plcLowell GroupIntrum ABIndustry Code
8291 - Activities of collection agencies and credit bureaus in Europe
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Performance
Key Takeaways
Growing confidence lifts demand for consumer credit
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Revenue Highlights
Trends
- Revenue
- 2025 Revenue Growth
- Revenue Volatility
Employment Highlights
Trends
- Employees
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Employee
Business Highlights
Trends
- Businesses
- Employees per Business
- Revenue per Business
Profit Highlights
Trends
- Total Profit
- Profit Margin
- Profit per Business
Current Performance
Charts
- Revenue in the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Employees in the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Business in the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
- Profit in the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Europe industry (2012 -2030)
Analysis
What's driving current industry performance in the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Europe industry?
Outlook
Analysis
What's driving the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Europe industry outlook?
Volatility
Analysis
What influences volatility in the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Europe industry?
Charts
- Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth Matrix
Life Cycle
Analysis
What determines the industry life cycle stage in the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Europe industry?
Charts
- Industry Life Cycle Matrix
Products and Markets
Highlights
Trends
- Largest Market
- Product Innovation
Key Takeaways
Rising debt issuance supports demand. Debt issuance has picked up over recent years as governments across Europe ramp up borrowing to stimulate economic growth.
Products and Services
Charts
- Products and Services Segmentation
Analysis
How are the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Europe industry's products and services performing?
Analysis
What are innovations in the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Europe industry's products and services?
Major Markets
Charts
- Major Market Segmentation
Analysis
What influences demand in the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Europe industry?
International Trade
Highlights
- Total Imports into Europe
- Total Exports into Europe
Heat maps
- Industry Concentration of Imports by Country
- Industry Concentration of Exports by Country
Data Tables
Value and annual change (%) included
- Number of Imports and Exports by European Country (2025)
Geographic Breakdown
Business Locations
Heat maps
- Share of Total Industry Revenue by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Enterprises by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Employment by Region (2025)
- Share of Total Industry Wages by Region (2025)
Industry Geographic Breakdown
Data Tables
Values and annual change provided for 37 European countries:
- Revenue (2025)
- IVA (2025)
- Enterprises (2025)
- Employment (2025)
- Exports (2025)
- Imports (2025)
Competitive Forces
Highlights
Trends
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Substitutes
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
Key Takeaways
Economies of scale ratchet up concentration. Bigger companies like Intrum and Experian dominate the market, offering diverse services to meet varying client needs, from debt collection to credit reporting.
Supply Chain
Charts
Buyer and supply industries
Companies
Market Share
Charts
- Industry Market Share by Company (2020-2025)
Companies
Data Tables
Top 10 companies by market share:
- Market share (2025)
- Revenue (2025)
- Profit (2025)
- Profit Margin (2025)
Data Tables
- Countries of operation for Experian plc
- Countries of operation for Lowell Group
- Countries of operation for Intrum AB
- Countries of operation for Atradius N.V.
- Countries of operation for EOS Holding GmbH
- Countries of operation for Dun & Bradstreet Corporation
- Countries of operation for Creditreform AG
- Countries of operation for Equifax Inc
- Countries of operation for Coface SA
- Countries of operation for Transunion International UK Ltd
External Environment
Highlights
Trends
- Regulation & Policy
- Assistance
Key Takeaways
Stringent regulations govern data handling, credit reporting and debt collection practices. Continuous monitoring of and adherence to these regulations is essential for credit bureaux to maintain trust and operate successfully.
External Drivers
Analysis
What demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Europe industry?
Financial Benchmarks
Highlights
Trends
- Profit Margin
- Average Wage
- Largest Cost
Key Takeaways
Technological advancements aid profitability. Collection agencies increasingly implement AI-driven solutions to improve risk assessment capabilities, leading to better decision-making.
Cost Structure
Charts
- Share of Economy vs. Investment Matrix
-
Industry Cost Structure Benchmarks:
- Marketing
- Depreciation
- Profit
- Purchases
- Wages
- Rent
- Utilities
- Other
Analysis
What trends impact cost in the Collection Agencies & Credit Bureaus in Europe industry?
Key Ratios
Data tables
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
Country Benchmarks
European Leaders & Laggards
Data Tables
Top and bottom five countries listed for each:
- Revenue Growth (2025)
- Business Growth (2025)
- Job Growth (2025)
European Country Performance
Data Tables
Rankings available for 37 countries. Statistics ranked include:
- IVA/Revenue (2025)
- Imports/Demand (2025)
- Exports/Revenue (2025)
- Revenue per Employee (2025)
- Wages/Revenue (2025)
- Employees per Establishment (2025)
- Average Wage (2025)
Structural Comparison
Data Tables
Trends in 37 countries benchmarked against trends in Europe
- Concentration
- Competition
- Barriers to Entry
- Buyer Power
- Supplier Power
- Volatility
- Capital Intensity
- Innovation
- Life Cycle
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Data Tables
Including values and annual change:
- Revenue (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Methodology
Where does IBISWorld source its data?
IBISWorld is a world-leading provider of business information, with reports on 5,000+ industries in Australia, New Zealand, North America, Europe and China. Our expert industry analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build an accurate picture of each industry.
Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and IBISWorld's proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.
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France
Italy
Spain