How many Americans
filed for bankruptcy?
485,341 federal bankruptcy filings in FY2024 — Chapter 7, 11, 12, and 13 broken down by state, district, and fiscal year, direct from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.
- Total filings (FY2024)
- 485,341
- Jurisdictions
- 51
- Federal districts
- 90
- Years of data
- FY15–24
Statistical information only. Not legal advice. Consult a bankruptcy attorney for guidance on your situation.
National Overview — FY2024
485,341
Total Filings
292,124
Chapter 7
179,819
Chapter 13
8,032
Chapter 11
643
Chapter 12
21,456
Business Filings
Chapter Breakdown
National FY2024 filings by type
10-Year National Trend
Total bankruptcy filings FY2015–FY2024
Bankruptcy Chapters
Each chapter serves a different purpose under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
Chapter 7
Liquidation
Most common. Wipes out most unsecured debts after liquidating non-exempt assets. Typical discharge in ~4 months.
Chapter 13
Wage Earner Plan
Reorganization plan for individuals with regular income. Repay debts over 3–5 years while keeping assets.
Chapter 11
Business Reorganization
Primarily for businesses. Allows restructuring debts while continuing operations. Complex, expensive process.
Chapter 12
Family Farmer/Fisherman
Specialized reorganization for family farmers and commercial fishermen. Similar to Chapter 13 but tailored.
Bankruptcy Guides
Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13
What the data shows about which path most filers choose and why.
Understanding the Means Test
The income test that determines Chapter 7 eligibility.
State Bankruptcy Exemptions
How state exemption laws affect what you can keep.
The Bankruptcy Timeline
From filing to discharge — what to expect step by step.
Business Bankruptcy (Ch. 11)
Trends and patterns in corporate restructuring.
About the Data
AOUSC Judicial Caseload Statistics
The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts publishes annual Judicial Caseload Statistics with bankruptcy filings by chapter and federal district. This is aggregate data — not individual case records.
Federal Judicial Districts
The U.S. has 94 federal judicial districts organized across 50 states and DC. Bankruptcy cases are filed in federal court — never state court. This site covers 90 active bankruptcy districts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What bankruptcy chapters does PlainBankruptcy cover?
PlainBankruptcy aggregates filings under the four most common chapters of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Chapter 7 covers liquidation for individuals and businesses with limited income. Chapter 13 is the wage-earner reorganization plan for individuals with regular income. Chapter 11 is corporate reorganization (and now also small-business reorganization under Subchapter V). Chapter 12 is the family-farmer and family-fisherman reorganization. We pull from PACER federal bankruptcy court dockets across all 90 federal bankruptcy districts.
What is the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13?
Chapter 7 is a liquidation: a court-appointed trustee sells the debtor's non-exempt assets and distributes proceeds to creditors, then most remaining unsecured debts are discharged. The case typically closes in 4 to 6 months. Chapter 13 is a reorganization: the debtor proposes a 3- or 5-year repayment plan funded from future income, and discharge happens at plan completion. Chapter 7 is faster and cheaper; Chapter 13 lets a debtor keep secured assets like a home or car by curing arrearages over time. Eligibility for Chapter 7 depends on the means test.
What is the means test?
The means test, codified at 11 U.S.C. § 707(b), screens individual debtors for Chapter 7 eligibility. It compares the debtor's current monthly income (averaged over the prior 6 months) against the median income for a household of the same size in the debtor's state. If income is below the median, the debtor passes automatically. If above, a second calculation deducts allowed expenses to compute disposable income — debtors with significant disposable income are presumed abusive of Chapter 7 and are usually steered into Chapter 13. The IRS publishes the income standards used.
How current is the filings data?
Federal bankruptcy court dockets are public records accessible through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). PlainBankruptcy refreshes from upstream PACER and Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts statistical releases on a regular ETL schedule. The Administrative Office publishes quarterly bankruptcy filings tables for the 12-month period ending each quarter, generally with a 60- to 90-day lag. Live docket entries appear in PACER within hours of filing. Each entity page surfaces its source-snapshot date.
What is the discharge rate?
The discharge rate is the percentage of cases that result in the debtor receiving a bankruptcy discharge — the court order eliminating personal liability on dischargeable debts. In Chapter 7, roughly 95 to 99 percent of completed cases receive a discharge. In Chapter 13, the rate is materially lower (commonly 35 to 50 percent of filed cases) because many filers fail to complete the multi-year repayment plan; converted, dismissed, or abandoned cases do not produce a discharge. Trends vary by district.
What is a non-dischargeable debt?
Certain debts survive bankruptcy under 11 U.S.C. § 523. Common categories include most student loans (absent a finding of undue hardship), recent income tax debt, child support and alimony, debts incurred by fraud, criminal restitution, judgments arising from drunk-driving injuries, and most fines and penalties owed to government units. A discharge wipes out unsecured credit-card debt, medical bills, personal loans, and most contract claims, but the non-dischargeable categories remain enforceable after the case closes.
Related Guides
Editorial context for the plainbankruptcy dataset — methodology, comparisons, and deep dives into the underlying records.