National ranking · FY2024 · AOUSC
States with the Highest Chapter 7 Filing Rate
All states ranked by reported Chapter 7 filings per 100,000 residents.
- 202.5
- Leader: Nevada
- 81.8
- Median state
- 51
- Jurisdictions
- 10.0×
- 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
Nevada leads with 202.5 per 100k, about 10.0× the rate of Alaska (20.3). Alaska is the #51 bottom of this complete jurisdiction list. The median state sits near 81.8.
- 202.5
- Nevada (highest)
- 20.3
- Alaska (lowest)
- 81.8
- median jurisdiction
- 10.0×
- spread between extremes
Per 100,000 residents · 51 jurisdictions · FY2024 · AOUSC Judicial Caseload Statistics.
What This Ranking Tells Us
This board compares reported Chapter 7 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 bar to make this list
Where the #5 cut-off sits among all 51 jurisdictions
130 Top 10% higher than 90% of 51 jurisdictions
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.
View all 51 states as a list
- Nevada: 203
- Ohio: 148
- Michigan: 136
- Indiana: 132
- Oklahoma: 130
- Kentucky: 128
- Mississippi: 128
- Utah: 121
- Arizona: 118
- Illinois: 117
- Oregon: 114
- Tennessee: 114
- Alabama: 111
- Maryland: 109
- Georgia: 104
- Florida: 103
- Minnesota: 103
- Wisconsin: 100
- Colorado: 100
- California: 93
- Virginia: 93
- Delaware: 92
- Idaho: 88
- Arkansas: 84
- Missouri: 84
- Iowa: 82
- Nebraska: 81
- Washington: 80
- New Jersey: 77
- Connecticut: 74
- Wyoming: 73
- West Virginia: 73
- New York: 68
- Kansas: 66
- North Dakota: 62
- Montana: 58
- Rhode Island: 58
- New Mexico: 56
- Texas: 53
- South Dakota: 53
- Hawaii: 52
- Pennsylvania: 50
- Louisiana: 45
- New Hampshire: 43
- Massachusetts: 40
- District of Columbia: 39
- Vermont: 32
- Maine: 31
- North Carolina: 27
- South Carolina: 27
- Alaska: 20
| # | State | Per 100K |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | 202.5 |
| 2 | Ohio | 147.9 |
| 3 | Michigan | 136.0 |
| 4 | Indiana | 132.3 |
| 5 | Oklahoma | 130.3 |
| 6 | Kentucky | 127.9 |
| 7 | Mississippi | 127.7 |
| 8 | Utah | 121.1 |
| 9 | Arizona | 118.2 |
| 10 | Illinois | 117.3 |
| 11 | Oregon | 114.2 |
| 12 | Tennessee | 114.2 |
| 13 | Alabama | 110.8 |
| 14 | Maryland | 108.6 |
| 15 | Georgia | 103.9 |
| 16 | Florida | 102.6 |
| 17 | Minnesota | 102.6 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | 100.0 |
| 19 | Colorado | 99.9 |
| 20 | California | 93.3 |
| 21 | Virginia | 92.7 |
| 22 | Delaware | 92.0 |
| 23 | Idaho | 88.3 |
| 24 | Arkansas | 84.1 |
| 25 | Missouri | 83.7 |
| 26 | Iowa | 81.8 |
| 27 | Nebraska | 80.7 |
| 28 | Washington | 80.3 |
| 29 | New Jersey | 77.0 |
| 30 | Connecticut | 74.4 |
| 31 | Wyoming | 72.8 |
| 32 | West Virginia | 72.7 |
| 33 | New York | 67.9 |
| 34 | Kansas | 65.6 |
| 35 | North Dakota | 62.0 |
| 36 | Montana | 58.2 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | 58.0 |
| 38 | New Mexico | 55.5 |
| 39 | Texas | 53.2 |
| 40 | South Dakota | 52.5 |
| 41 | Hawaii | 51.6 |
| 42 | Pennsylvania | 49.8 |
| 43 | Louisiana | 44.9 |
| 44 | New Hampshire | 43.4 |
| 45 | Massachusetts | 40.1 |
| 46 | District of Columbia | 39.2 |
| 47 | Vermont | 32.0 |
| 48 | Maine | 31.0 |
| 49 | North Carolina | 27.1 |
| 50 | South Carolina | 26.8 |
| 51 | Alaska | 20.3 |
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 202.5, while the trailing state, Alaska, posts 20.3 - a spread of 182.2 points and a ratio of roughly 10.0x between the extremes. The median jurisdiction sits near 81.8, giving a quick sense of where a "typical" state falls versus the leaders and laggards.
The top of this list (Nevada, Ohio, Michigan) and the bottom of this list (Alaska, South Carolina, North Carolina) have materially different reported rates in this fiscal-year extract. This board compares reported Chapter 7 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 7 ranking measure?
It ranks aggregate Chapter 7 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 is Chapter 7 more common in some 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.
How does this compare with the Chapter 13 board?
The two boards report different aggregate filing categories from the same source. They are not a comparison of legal eligibility, consequences, or a recommendation for any person.
Explore More Rankings
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
What to do with this
This ranking's own numbers, then where to compare them.
- Nevada leads this ranking at 202.5 per 100k - see its full state profile. Nevada 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.
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.