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In 2025, approximately 444,000 counterfeit euro banknotes were withdrawn from circulation, a 20% decrease compared to the previous year.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’s launch.

The most commonly counterfeited denominations were €20 and €50, accounting for about 80% of all counterfeit notes withdrawn. In 2025, 96.8% of counterfeits were found in euro area countries, 2.2% in non-euro EU member states, and 1.0% elsewhere.

The overall risk of receiving a counterfeit note remains very low. Most counterfeits lack security features or have poor imitations. The public can verify authenticity using the “feel, look and tilt” method, detailed on the official security features webpage or on national central bank sites.

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 counterfeiting.