Counterfeit euro banknotes remain low in 2025

In 2025, approximately 444,000 counterfeit euro banknotes were withdrawn from circulation, a 20% decrease compared to the previous year. The number of counterfeits detected per million genuine notes was 14, one of the lowest levels since the euro was introduced.

The €20 and €50 denominations accounted for about 80% of all counterfeit notes withdrawn. The majority of counterfeits (96.8%) were found in euro area countries, with smaller percentages in non-euro EU Member States (2.2%) and other parts of the world (1.0%).

The euro remains a safe and trusted means of payment. Most counterfeits are easy to detect using the “feel, look and tilt” method, which can be verified through the official security features web page or national central banks’ websites.

If a suspicious banknote is received, compare it with a genuine note. If confirmed, contact the police, your national central bank, or your bank. The Eurosystem supports law enforcement efforts against currency counterfeiting.