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Late Payment Statistics 2025
The data behind why receivables teams need a structured recovery partner.
47%
of B2B invoices in Europe are paid late
European Payment Report
9.3%
of all B2B sales are written off as uncollectible
Atradius Payment Practices Barometer
55 days
average DSO across Western Europe
Intrum European Payment Report
2.1×
higher recovery rate when professional collections engage <90 days
DECOL internal benchmarks
Regional benchmarks
| Region | Avg DSO (days) | B2B invoices paid late | Write-off rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | 45 | 38% | 1.4% |
| United Kingdom | 52 | 49% | 1.8% |
| France | 58 | 56% | 2.1% |
| Italy | 78 | 62% | 3% |
| Spain | 71 | 58% | 2.6% |
| Netherlands | 42 | 33% | 1.2% |
| UAE | 68 | 51% | 2.4% |
| USA | 49 | 44% | 1.9% |
Sources: Atradius Payment Practices Barometer, Intrum European Payment Report, OECD, DECOL internal benchmarks. Figures rounded for clarity.
Three trends shaping 2025
- Payment terms are stretching. Average B2B terms have moved from 30 to 45+ days across most European markets, increasing DSO pressure.
- Write-offs are rising in SME segments. Smaller debtors are more exposed to interest-rate and energy cost pressure, raising default risk.
- Earlier escalation outperforms. Invoices passed to professional recovery within 60–90 days settle at materially higher rates.
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