List of oldest companies

This list of the oldest companies includes brands and companies, excluding associations, educational, government or religious organizations. To be listed, a brand or company name must remain, either in whole or in part, since inception. If the original name has subsequently changed due to acquisition or renaming, this must be verifiable.

In 2009, Japanese survey firm, Tokyo Shoko Research, searched the years of foundation of 1,975,620 firms in their database.^[1] They found 21,666 companies which have existed for over 100 years.^[2][3] According to the Bank of Korea, there are 837 companies lasting over 200 years in Germany, 222 in the Netherlands and 196 in France. 89.4 per cent of the companies with over 100 years of history are businesses employing fewer than 300 people.^[4][5]

578 to 1299

1300 to 1399

1400 to 1499

1500 to 1599

1600 to 1649

1650 to 1699

1700 to 1749

1750 to 1774

1775 to 1799