www.ecb.europa.eu
21 February 2025
- 554,000 counterfeit euro banknotes withdrawn in 2024 representing, by historical standards, small proportion of total banknotes in circulation
- €20 and €50 most counterfeited denominations, accounting for over 75% of all counterfeit notes withdrawn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Some 554,000 counterfeit euro banknotes were withdrawn from circulation in 2024. 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 2024, 18 counterfeits were detected per million genuine banknotes in circulation, which is very low compared with the levels observed following the launch of the euro (see chart).
Chart
Number of counterfeit euro banknotes detected annually per million genuine notes in circulation
Although the proportion is very small, the actual number of counterfeits has…