National ranking · FY2024 · AOUSC

States with the Highest Chapter 13 Filing Rate

All states ranked by reported Chapter 13 filings per 100,000 residents.

261.9
Leader: Alabama
40.8
Median state
51
Jurisdictions
35.9×
Top-to-bottom spread

Data updated September 2026

According to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC), 498,492 bankruptcy cases were filed across the federal judicial districts in fiscal year 2024. The rankings below divide each state's filings by its U.S. Census Bureau population to compare jurisdictions on a like-for-like, per-100,000-resident basis. See our methodology for how every rate is calculated. This rate measures reported filing activity relative to population, not financial wellbeing or legal eligibility. The ranking cannot establish why states differ or predict an individual outcome.

The bottom line

Alabama leads with 261.9 per 100k, about 35.9× the rate of Vermont (7.3). Vermont is the #51 bottom of this complete jurisdiction list. The median state sits near 40.8.

261.9
Alabama (highest)
7.3
Vermont (lowest)
40.8
median jurisdiction
35.9×
spread between extremes

Per 100,000 residents · 51 jurisdictions · FY2024 · AOUSC Judicial Caseload Statistics.

What This Ranking Tells Us

This board compares reported Chapter 13 filings per 100,000 residents in the selected fiscal year. It does not determine eligibility, explain a particular filing, or recommend a legal course. Use it as a descriptive comparison of the AOUSC filing records and consult the source and methodology for the calculation.

Highest 5 states by filing rate (per 100k)

Full ranking of 51 jurisdictions below

  1. 1
    Alabama 261.9 per 100k
  2. 2
    Mississippi 172.3 per 100k
  3. 3
    Tennessee 163.4 per 100k
  4. 4
    Louisiana 153.3 per 100k
  5. 5
    Georgia 152.9 per 100k

What this shows Alabama leads this top-5 by a wide margin -- the 5th-ranked state's per 100k is 42% lower, showing how quickly the rate falls off outside the top few.

Source AOUSC Judicial Caseload Statistics · FY2024

The bar to make this list

Where the #5 cut-off sits among all 51 jurisdictions

153 Top 10% higher than 90% of 51 jurisdictions

7–39: 23 jurisdictions (45%). Below this entry. 39–71: 18 jurisdictions (35%). Below this entry. 71–103: 3 jurisdictions (6%). Below this entry. 103–135: 2 jurisdictions (4%). Below this entry. 135–166: 3 jurisdictions (6%). This entry sits in this band. 166–198: 1 jurisdictions (2%). Above this entry. 198–230: 0 jurisdictions (0%). Above this entry. 230–262: 1 jurisdictions (2%). Above this entry. Top-5 cut-off 7 262 all 51 jurisdictions, bucketed by value

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more jurisdictions. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source AOUSC Judicial Caseload Statistics · FY2024

The map view

Every jurisdiction shaded by its per 100k - darker is higher. Select a state for its full profile.

Per 100K by state, FY2024. Source: AOUSC Judicial Caseload Statistics · U.S. Census Bureau (population).
AK ME
VT NH
WA ID MT ND MN IL WI MI NY MA
OR UT WY SD IA IN OH PA NJ CT RI
CA NV CO NE MO KY WV VA MD DE
AZ NM KS AR TN NC SC DC
OK LA MS AL GA
HI TX FL
Scale: 7–58 58–109 109–160 160–211 211–262
View all 51 states as a list
  1. Alabama: 262
  2. Mississippi: 172
  3. Tennessee: 163
  4. Louisiana: 153
  5. Georgia: 153
  6. Arkansas: 128
  7. Kentucky: 114
  8. Indiana: 99
  9. Illinois: 84
  10. Utah: 73
  11. Missouri: 70
  12. Virginia: 70
  13. Maryland: 66
  14. Michigan: 65
  15. Kansas: 63
  16. Wisconsin: 59
  17. South Carolina: 59
  18. New Jersey: 53
  19. North Carolina: 52
  20. Florida: 52
  21. Delaware: 51
  22. Ohio: 50
  23. Nevada: 45
  24. Pennsylvania: 43
  25. Texas: 41
  26. Oregon: 41
  27. Minnesota: 40
  28. Nebraska: 39
  29. New York: 34
  30. Hawaii: 29
  31. Oklahoma: 29
  32. Arizona: 26
  33. Colorado: 26
  34. Rhode Island: 24
  35. Massachusetts: 23
  36. Washington: 23
  37. California: 22
  38. South Dakota: 17
  39. West Virginia: 17
  40. New Hampshire: 17
  41. Connecticut: 16
  42. District of Columbia: 15
  43. Iowa: 14
  44. Idaho: 12
  45. Wyoming: 11
  46. Montana: 10
  47. New Mexico: 9
  48. Alaska: 8
  49. Maine: 8
  50. North Dakota: 8
  51. Vermont: 7
#StatePer 100K
1Alabama261.9
2Mississippi172.3
3Tennessee163.4
4Louisiana153.3
5Georgia152.9
6Arkansas128.1
7Kentucky114.1
8Indiana98.7
9Illinois83.7
10Utah72.9
11Missouri69.7
12Virginia69.6
13Maryland65.6
14Michigan64.5
15Kansas62.6
16Wisconsin59.4
17South Carolina58.8
18New Jersey53.1
19North Carolina52.4
20Florida51.5
21Delaware51.1
22Ohio50.4
23Nevada44.9
24Pennsylvania43.1
25Texas41.3
26Oregon40.8
27Minnesota40.3
28Nebraska39.4
29New York34.2
30Hawaii29.4
31Oklahoma28.8
32Arizona26.2
33Colorado25.7
34Rhode Island23.8
35Massachusetts23.3
36Washington23.2
37California22.3
38South Dakota17.3
39West Virginia16.7
40New Hampshire16.5
41Connecticut15.5
42District of Columbia15.0
43Iowa14.4
44Idaho12.4
45Wyoming11.3
46Montana9.6
47New Mexico8.7
48Alaska7.6
49Maine7.6
50North Dakota7.5
51Vermont7.3

Source: Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC), Judicial Caseload Statistics.

What This Ranking Actually Shows

This ranking covers 51 jurisdictions with per 100k values sourced from AOUSC Judicial Caseload Statistics. The leading state, Alabama, posts 261.9, while the trailing state, Vermont, posts 7.3 - a spread of 254.6 points and a ratio of roughly 35.9x between the extremes. The median jurisdiction sits near 40.8, giving a quick sense of where a "typical" state falls versus the leaders and laggards.

The top of this list (Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee) and the bottom of this list (Vermont, North Dakota, Maine) have materially different reported rates in this fiscal-year extract. This board compares reported Chapter 13 filings per 100,000 residents in the selected fiscal year. It does not determine eligibility, explain a particular filing, or recommend a legal course. Use it as a descriptive comparison of the AOUSC filing records and consult the source and methodology for the calculation. The ranking itself does not identify the cause of those differences or predict an individual legal or financial outcome.

Rankings describe aggregate populations of court filings across a full fiscal year; they do not predict the result of any single case. A state's position on this list describes the local filing environment, not a recommendation to file. This page is statistical information only and is not legal advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this Chapter 13 ranking measure?

It ranks aggregate Chapter 13 filings reported to the AOUSC per 100,000 residents during the selected fiscal year. It does not determine an individual's eligibility, likely result, or best legal option.

Why do Chapter 13 rates differ between states?

The underlying filing-and-population data cannot establish causes. It can show differences in reported rates, but a causal explanation requires additional, specifically sourced research.

Does this page show Chapter 13 outcomes?

No. This page is limited to reported filings and population-based rates. It does not report case outcomes, legal consequences, or a recommendation for any person.

Explore More Rankings

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Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

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What to do with this

This ranking's own numbers, then where to compare them.

  • Alabama leads this ranking at 261.9 per 100k - see its full state profile. Alabama profile
  • This board compares reported filings per 100,000 residents - the guide breaks down what separates Chapter 7 liquidation from Chapter 13 repayment. Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13
  • This is one of four national rankings - see the highest filing rate board next. Highest Filing Rate

Figures are Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC), Judicial Caseload Statistics FY2024 filings - see the methodology page for how the rate is calculated.

Data sourced from Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC) Judicial Caseload Statistics. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainBankruptcy

Every figure on PlainBankruptcy is rendered directly from federal court source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal court source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.