Snapshot of the debt recovery sector in Spain: key data for 2025

Every year, the debt recovery sector in Spain handles hundreds of millions of euros and affects millions of people and businesses, either directly or indirectly. But how large is this sector, really? How much debt is managed? And how much is actually recovered?

At Axactor, driven by our commitment to helping people resolve their debts and offering solutions tailored to their needs, we stay fully up to date with industry trends. To that end, we have analyzed the 2025 Market Study on the Debt Recovery and Delinquency Sector—prepared by Angeco — to provide a comprehensive overview featuring comparative data from 2024 and 2025.

What is the turnover of the debt recovery sector in Spain?

In 2025, the combined revenue of companies associated with Angeco reached €1,804 million, up from €1,763 million in 2024, representing a year-on-year growth of 2.3%. This increase reflects a moderate and stable trend, amidst a context of contained debt and stabilizing credit activity.

Within this turnover, debt management services remain the primary source of revenue, exceeding €1,412 million (+0.84% compared to 2024). Meanwhile, revenue from services other than debt recovery—such as consulting, BPO, or servicing—shows a more dynamic trend, reaching nearly €392 million, an increase of 8% over the previous year.

Within debt recovery, amicable settlement remains the predominant source of revenue, accounting for €894 million, compared to €518 million from judicial recovery.

What is the volume of debt managed and recovered in Spain in 2025?

In 2025, the sector managed a total of €469,768 million, 2.2% more than in 2024. Of that amount, €13,345 million was recovered (+3.8% year-on-year), a figure that is approximately equivalent to 1% of Spain's GDP and that highlights the role of the sector in the reincorporation of resources into the production system.

By management type:

43% of the volume was channeled through amicable means (€202,431 million).
57% was handled through judicial channels (€267,336 million).

Regarding the files, the sector managed 135.5 million files in 2025 (+3.3%), of which about 89% were processed amicably, although judicial management continues to grow, especially in files without real guarantee.

Of the total number of cases handled, payment agreements were reached in 23.3% of cases (more than 31.6 million cases), 80.8% of which remain active.

Personal debt vs. corporate debt

In 2025, a much more balanced evolution between the two profiles is observed compared to previous years:

Corporate debt: 53% of the total managed (€248,977 million).
Retail debt: 47% of the total managed (€220,791 million).

This convergence confirms a trend towards greater balance between the two segments, following several years in which corporate debt carried significantly more weight.

Which sectors generate the most debt recovery activity?

Financial institutions remain the sector's primary client, accounting for nearly 37% of the total managed volume (although their share has decreased slightly from the 38% recorded in 2024). They are followed by:

Third-party investor debt: ~26% of total volume.
Own debt (debt acquired by the companies themselves): ~24%.
Insolvency-related debt and "other": smaller shares, but growing.
Utilities and telco: lower relative weight, though showing positive trends; the telco sector stands out for growth in managed amounts (~3%) and a reduction in the average age of amicable settlement cases (from 31 to 26 months).

Contact channels: the phone rules, but WhatsApp is gaining ground.

The telephone remains, by far, the primary contact channel, accounting for 63.5% of contacts (though down from 65.8% in 2024). It is followed by email (12.5%) and SMS (12%).

The most striking fact is the growth of WhatsApp, which doubles its relative weight, going from 1.7% to 4% of the total contacts, consolidating itself as the digital channel with the greatest growth in the sector. In contrast, the use of callbots has declined slightly, settling at around 2.5%.

Geographical distribution: Madrid, Catalonia, and Andalusia account for the bulk of the volume.

By autonomous community, the Community of Madrid leads in terms of managed volume with 18.6% of the total (€87,424 million), followed by:

Catalonia: 17.5% (€82,209 million)
Andalusia: 15.7% (€73,800 million)
Valencian Community: 10.8% (€50,688 million)

Together, the four account for more than 60% of the total volume managed in Spain. At the opposite end, Ceuta and Melilla represent just 0.1% of the total, along with La Rioja (0.6%) and Cantabria (1.3%).

Frequently asked questions about the debt recovery sector in Spain

What is the turnover of the debt recovery sector in Spain?

In 2025, companies associated with Angeco generated €1,804 million in revenue, a 2.3% increase compared to 2024.

How much debt is managed in Spain each year?

The sector managed €469.768 million in 2025, of which €13.345 million was recovered—approximately 1% of Spain's GDP.

What percentage of the managed debt belongs to individuals versus companies?

According to 2025 data, 53% is corporate debt and 47% is consumer debt.

Which sector generates the most activity for debt collection companies?

Financial institutions, accounting for nearly 37% of the total volume managed, followed by third-party investor debt (26%) and proprietary debt (24%).

How many people work in the debt collection sector in Spain?

Companies associated with Angeco employed 19,861 people in 2025, with 77% directly engaged in debt collection tasks.