LEI on course for growth: Global trends show rising demand for LEI registration and LEI numbers

29 July 2025

Demand for the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) is growing at an impressive rate worldwide. A significant milestone was reached in the second quarter of 2025: around 93,000 new LEIs were registered – an increase of 3.4% compared to the previous quarter. This brings the total number of active LEI numbers to 2.8 million. This growth once again demonstrates how strongly LEI registration is establishing itself outside the capital markets.

LEI as the key to transparency in digital ecosystems

The LEI was initially developed to increase transparency in the financial sector, but is now unfolding its full potential in numerous digital applications. With its ‘LEI in Numbers’ initiative, the Global LEI Foundation (GLEIF) aims to make essential data from the global LEI system transparent. The publicly available annual reports offer valuable insights into current trends, regulatory developments, and geographical focal points.

International regulations drive LEI registration

Regulatory measures are a key growth driver for new LEI registrations. India stands out in particular, with strong growth of 13.2%. Companies with loans exceeding five crore rupees are now required to have a valid LEI number to extend or expand their credit lines.

The Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) regulation is also having a positive impact in Europe. Countries such as Lithuania (+5.7%), Latvia (+5.1%), and Iceland (+4.7%) have seen significant growth. DORA requires ICT service providers of critical importance to provide an LEI number or an EUID. For non-European providers, LEI registration is even mandatory.

Greater trust in payment transactions thanks to the LEI

Another area in which the LEI is gaining importance is international payment transactions. The updated Recommendation 16 of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) explicitly mentions the LEI as a unique identifier for legal entities in national and cross-border payments. The EU’s new Instant Payment Regulation (IPR) also emphasises the role of the LEI in verifying the identity of the payee – an essential step towards more transparent and secure transactions.

High renewal rates prove sustainable use

Global renewal rates confirm the increasing relevance of the LEI number. In the second quarter of 2025, the overall renewal rate was 56.4%. Japan once again led the way with an outstanding renewal rate of 91.8%, followed by Finland, India, Germany, and Liechtenstein. This indicates that many companies do not merely apply for the LEI once, but rather integrate it into their long-term compliance strategies.

Outlook: The LEI as a universal digital identity

Whether for regulatory requirements, payment transparency, or digital business relationships, the LEI is increasingly establishing itself as a global identification solution. The combination of open data, international acceptance, and standardised allocation makes the LEI a key element for trust in the digital economy. The increasing number of LEI registrations worldwide indicates that companies of all sizes and from all industries will no longer be able to do without a valid LEI number in the future.