9 February 2024 Updated 21 February 2024

Mercantile Companies Statistics (MC)

December 2023 and year 2023. Provisional data

Main results

  • The number of mercantile companies decreased by 3.7% in December compared to the same month in 2022.
  • The number of companies dissolved decreased by 17.8%.
  • In 2023 as a whole, a total of 108,091 mercantile companies were incorporated, 9.1% more than in 2022.

In December, 7,957 mercantile companies were incorporated, 3.7% less than in the same month in 2022. The subscribed capital for their incorporation recorded an annual increase of 31.1% and the average capital subscribed (€87,002) increased by 36.3%.

On the other hand, 2,155 companies increased their capital, 15.7% fewer than in December 2022. The subscribed capital in the increases decreased by 31.0%.

The number of dissolved mercantile companies decreased by 17.8% in the annual rate. 86.7% of them did so voluntarily.

Mercantile companies created, increasing their capital and dissolved. December 2023

Results by main economic activity principal

Of the mercantile companies incorporated in December, 20.1% were engaged in Trade and 18.1% were Property, financial and insurance companies. Regarding dissolved companies, 20.1% were Trade and 15.8% were Construction.

Mercantile companies created by main economic activity. December 2023

Percentage

Mercantile companies dissolved by main economic activity. December 2023

Percentage

The economic activity with the largest subscribed capital of mercantile companies incorporated was Real estate, financial and insurance, with €523.09 million. In turn, Administrative and support service activities registered the lowest capital, with €2.45 million.

Capital subscribed of mercantile companies created by main economic activity. December 2023

Thousands of euros

Results by Autonomous Community

Cantabria (25.0%), Extremadura (9.5%) and Aragón (6.2%) recorded the highest annual growth in the number of mercantile companies incorporated.

In turn, La Rioja (-31.3%) and Illes Balears (-23.6%) recorded the largest decreases.

Annual variation in mercantile companies created by Autonomous Community. December 2023

Percentage

Results for the whole of year 2023

In 2023, a total of 108,091 mercantile companies were incorporated, 9.1% more than in 2022. The subscribed capital for its incorporation increased by 21.2% and the average capital increased by 11.1%.

Mercantile companies created, that increased their capital, and disolved
Number of companies created, that increased their capital and disolved in the last five years

In thousands

Results by main economic activity

Of the mercantile companies incorporated in 2023, 19.2% were engaged in Trade and 16.9% were Property, financial and insurance companies. As for dissolved companies, 20.1% were Trade and 15.8% were Construction.

Results by Autonomous Communities

The communities with the highest number of mercantile companies incorporated in 2023 were Comunidad de Madrid (24,671), Catalonia (20,646) and Andalucía (19,167). On the other hand, La Rioja (415), Cantabria (769) and Comunidad Foral de Navarra (805) incorporated the lowest number of companies.

In turn, Comunidad de Madrid (8,244), Andalucía (3,826) and Comunitat Valenciana (1,839) were the communities with the highest number of dissolutions. And those with the fewest were La Rioja (201), Comunidad Foral de Navarra (261) and Cantabria (268).

Revision and updating of data

The data for 2023 are provisional and will be reviewed when the data for the same period next year are published. All results of this operation are available on INEbase.

Methodological note

The Mercantile Companies Statistics were created by Order of 30 April 1938. Their objective is to measure the demographics of companies, providing monthly information, at provincial and Autonomous Community level, on the companies incorporated, dissolved and those in which there have been changes in capital.

The source of information is the Central Mercantile Registry, which collects all provincial information on the registration of companies and entrepreneurs, as well as mercantile acts determined by law.

Type of survey: continuous monthly survey.

Population scope: set of companies registered in the Central Mercantile Register.

Geographical scope: the entire national territory, by Autonomous Communities and provinces.

Reference period of the results: the calendar month.

Reference period of the information: the calendar month.

Collection method: official records.

More information on the methodology and the standardised methodological report

INE statistics are produced in accordance with the Code of Good Practice for European Statistics. More information in Quality at the INE and Code of Best Practices.

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