In 2025, 444,000 counterfeit euro banknotes were withdrawn, representing one of the lowest levels ever. Most counterfeits are easily detectable, with €20 and €50 notes most targeted.
In 2025, approximately 444,000 counterfeit euro banknotes were withdrawn from circulation, a 20% decrease compared to the previous year.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The most commonly counterfeited denominations were €20 and €50, accounting for about 80% of all counterfeit notes withdrawn. 96.8% of counterfeits were found in euro area countries, 2.2% in non-euro EU Member States, and 1.0% elsewhere.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 is low, as most counterfeits lack security features or are poor imitations. The public can verify authenticity using the “feel, look and tilt” method, detailed on the Eurosystem security features webpage or national central bank sites.
Individuals receiving suspicious banknotes should compare with genuine notes and contact the police or their bank if counterfeit is suspected. The Eurosystem supports law enforcement efforts against currency counterfeiting.
