10.09.2024
Payment discipline: which countries take longest to pay?
Payment terms and actual payment times remain a critical area of focus for businesses across Europe. Which country has best and worst payment discipline?
The payment gap across Europe
Payment terms and actual payment times remain a critical area of focus for businesses across Europe. The payment gap—the delay between an invoice's due date and when it is actually paid—varies widely between countries.
European businesses report a rather stable payment gap—the difference between the terms set for payments and the actual time businesses must wait to receive funds.
In 2024, on European average, both public sector and B2B paid their invoices, on average, 16 days later than agreed.
Payment discipline: which countries take longest to pay?
Payment behaviours vary significantly across Europe, with some countries experiencing more severe delays than others. According to the European Payment Report 2024, businesses in certain regions are facing increasing pressure from growing delays.
Want to explore more?
Published in June 2024, the European Payment Report provides insights into the payment behaviours of European businesses and examines trends related to late payments, invoice payment practices, and overall financial risk.