- 20 and €50 most counterfeited denominations, accounting for around 80% of all counterfeit notes withdrawn
- Euro banknotes remain safe and trusted means of payment
- Authenticity of euro banknotes can be verified using “feel, look and tilt” method
Some 444,000 counterfeit euro banknotes were withdrawn from circulation in 2025, a decrease of 20% compared with the previous year. The likelihood of receiving a counterfeit is low, as the number of counterfeits is very small in proportion to genuine euro banknotes in circulation. In 2025, 14 counterfeits were detected per million genuine banknotes in circulation, which is one of the lowest levels since the launch of the euro (see chart).
