National ranking · FY2024 · AOUSC
States with the Highest Chapter 7 Filing Rate
All states ranked by Chapter 7 liquidation filings per 100,000 residents, where straight bankruptcy discharge is most common.
- 225.1
- Leader: Nevada
- 104.4
- Median state
- 51
- Jurisdictions
- 3.9×
- Top-to-bottom spread
Data updated July 2026
According to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC), roughly 485,000 bankruptcy cases were filed across the federal judicial districts in the fiscal year ending September 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 filing activity relative to population, not residents' financial distress or responsibility directly: state exemption laws, means-test income thresholds, and local legal culture all shape how often residents use bankruptcy court.
The bottom line
Nevada leads with 225.1 per 100k, about 3.9× the rate of District of Columbia (58.3). The median state sits near 104.4.
- 225.1
- Nevada (highest)
- 58.3
- District of Columbia (lowest)
- 104.4
- median jurisdiction
- 3.9×
- spread between extremes
Per 100,000 residents · 51 jurisdictions · FY2024 · AOUSC Judicial Caseload Statistics.
What This Ranking Tells Us
Chapter 7 is the most common form of bankruptcy, allowing individuals to discharge most unsecured debts in exchange for liquidating non-exempt assets. States with high Chapter 7 rates typically have laws that make this chapter particularly attractive, generous personal property exemptions, means test thresholds that qualify more debtors, and a legal culture oriented toward fresh-start liquidation rather than multi-year repayment plans. For consumers, Chapter 7 offers the fastest path to a clean slate, usually completing within 4-6 months.
Top 5 states - per 100k
The map view
Every jurisdiction shaded by its per 100k - darker is higher. Select a state for its full profile.
| # | State | Per 100K |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | 225.1 |
| 2 | Utah | 160.1 |
| 3 | Alabama | 144.1 |
| 4 | Arizona | 137.2 |
| 5 | Hawaii | 132.5 |
| 6 | Louisiana | 130.4 |
| 7 | Oregon | 129.8 |
| 8 | Alaska | 127.0 |
| 9 | New Mexico | 125.2 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 122.1 |
| 11 | Mississippi | 117.3 |
| 12 | Colorado | 115.2 |
| 13 | Georgia | 114.4 |
| 14 | California | 112.3 |
| 15 | Indiana | 112.1 |
| 16 | Florida | 111.8 |
| 17 | Kansas | 111.2 |
| 18 | New Jersey | 110.7 |
| 19 | Wyoming | 109.6 |
| 20 | Illinois | 108.3 |
| 21 | Nebraska | 108.3 |
| 22 | Ohio | 106.0 |
| 23 | Washington | 104.9 |
| 24 | Tennessee | 104.8 |
| 25 | Michigan | 104.5 |
| 26 | Missouri | 104.4 |
| 27 | Maine | 101.9 |
| 28 | Delaware | 100.5 |
| 29 | Vermont | 99.5 |
| 30 | Idaho | 98.5 |
| 31 | Kentucky | 98.2 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | 95.7 |
| 33 | Arkansas | 95.3 |
| 34 | Minnesota | 95.3 |
| 35 | Rhode Island | 94.7 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | 92.7 |
| 37 | West Virginia | 92.2 |
| 38 | Iowa | 91.0 |
| 39 | Maryland | 88.1 |
| 40 | New York | 84.7 |
| 41 | Montana | 83.4 |
| 42 | Pennsylvania | 81.0 |
| 43 | Texas | 80.5 |
| 44 | Massachusetts | 78.3 |
| 45 | Virginia | 74.3 |
| 46 | South Carolina | 73.5 |
| 47 | Connecticut | 73.1 |
| 48 | North Carolina | 69.8 |
| 49 | North Dakota | 68.9 |
| 50 | South Dakota | 61.0 |
| 51 | District of Columbia | 58.3 |
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, Nevada, posts 225.1, while the trailing state, District of Columbia, posts 58.3 - a spread of 166.8 points and a ratio of roughly 3.9x between the extremes. The median jurisdiction sits near 104.4, giving a quick sense of where a "typical" state falls versus the leaders and laggards.
The top of this list (Nevada, Utah, Alabama) and the bottom of this list (District of Columbia, South Dakota, North Dakota) are not close substitutes for one another. Chapter 7 is the most common form of bankruptcy, allowing individuals to discharge most unsecured debts in exchange for liquidating non-exempt assets. States with high Chapter 7 rates typically have laws that make this chapter particularly attractive, generous personal property exemptions, means test thresholds that qualify more debtors, and a legal culture oriented toward fresh-start liquidation rather than multi-year repayment plans. For consumers, Chapter 7 offers the fastest path to a clean slate, usually completing within 4-6 months. Differences this large between neighboring states usually reflect structural legal and economic factors, exemption laws, attorney fee conventions, local trustee practices, means-test thresholds tied to state median income, and creditor recovery norms, rather than short-term swings in consumer behavior. Some of these factors change slowly (state statutes), while others shift year to year (median-income thresholds, interest rates).
Rankings describe aggregate populations of court filings across a full fiscal year; they do not predict the result of any single case nor determine whether bankruptcy is the right choice for any individual. A state's position on this list tells you something about the local filing environment, but it does not replace a case-specific analysis of income, assets, secured debt, exemptions, and alternative remedies. This page is statistical information only and is not legal advice; anyone weighing a bankruptcy filing should consult a licensed bankruptcy attorney admitted to practice in the relevant judicial district.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chapter 7 bankruptcy?
Chapter 7 is a liquidation bankruptcy where a court-appointed trustee sells the debtor's non-exempt assets to pay creditors, then discharges remaining eligible debts. Most Chapter 7 cases are "no-asset" - meaning the debtor's property is fully covered by exemptions and nothing is liquidated. The process typically takes 4-6 months from filing to discharge. Debtors must pass a means test comparing their income to the state median.
Why is Chapter 7 more common in some states?
State exemption laws are the primary driver. States with generous exemptions (especially unlimited homestead exemptions like Texas and Florida) make Chapter 7 attractive because debtors can keep their homes and other property while discharging debts. The means test threshold also varies by state median income, states with lower medians qualify more debtors for Chapter 7. Attorney fee structures and local court practices also play a role.
How does Chapter 7 differ from Chapter 13?
Chapter 7 discharges most debts within months through liquidation (selling non-exempt assets). Chapter 13 requires a 3-5 year repayment plan where the debtor makes monthly payments to a trustee. Chapter 7 is faster and eliminates debt completely, but Chapter 13 lets debtors keep assets (like a home in foreclosure) while catching up on payments. Income level, asset ownership, and the type of debt determine which chapter is more appropriate.
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Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
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.