National ranking · FY2024 · AOUSC
States with the Highest Bankruptcy Filing Rate
All 50 states and DC ranked by total bankruptcy filings per 100,000 residents, from highest to lowest filing rate.
- 374.4
- Leader: Alabama
- 127.5
- Median state
- 51
- Jurisdictions
- 12.7×
- 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 374.4 per 100k, about 12.7× the rate of Alaska (29.4). Alaska is the #51 bottom of this complete jurisdiction list. The median state sits near 127.5.
- 374.4
- Alabama (highest)
- 29.4
- Alaska (lowest)
- 127.5
- median jurisdiction
- 12.7×
- spread between extremes
Per 100,000 residents · 51 jurisdictions · FY2024 · AOUSC Judicial Caseload Statistics.
What This Ranking Tells Us
This ranking compares reported federal bankruptcy filings relative to each jurisdiction's population in the selected fiscal year. It is a descriptive comparison of court filings, not a measure of any resident's finances, legal options, or the cause of a state's position. Interpret the figures alongside their source vintage, population denominator, and the chapter-specific boards.
The bar to make this list
Where the #5 cut-off sits among all 51 jurisdictions
263 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
- Alabama: 374
- Mississippi: 302
- Tennessee: 280
- Delaware: 267
- Georgia: 263
- Nevada: 250
- Kentucky: 243
- Indiana: 232
- Arkansas: 214
- Illinois: 203
- Michigan: 201
- Louisiana: 201
- Ohio: 199
- Utah: 195
- Maryland: 176
- Virginia: 163
- Wisconsin: 160
- Oklahoma: 160
- Florida: 157
- Oregon: 156
- Missouri: 155
- Arizona: 146
- Minnesota: 143
- New Jersey: 142
- Kansas: 130
- Colorado: 128
- Nebraska: 122
- California: 118
- New York: 107
- Washington: 105
- Idaho: 102
- Texas: 99
- Iowa: 97
- Pennsylvania: 95
- West Virginia: 91
- Connecticut: 90
- South Carolina: 86
- Wyoming: 86
- Rhode Island: 83
- Hawaii: 82
- North Carolina: 80
- North Dakota: 71
- South Dakota: 71
- Montana: 69
- Massachusetts: 65
- District of Columbia: 65
- New Mexico: 65
- New Hampshire: 61
- Maine: 40
- Vermont: 40
- Alaska: 29
| # | State | Per 100K |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alabama | 374.4 |
| 2 | Mississippi | 301.6 |
| 3 | Tennessee | 279.6 |
| 4 | Delaware | 266.7 |
| 5 | Georgia | 262.6 |
| 6 | Nevada | 250.2 |
| 7 | Kentucky | 243.1 |
| 8 | Indiana | 232.0 |
| 9 | Arkansas | 214.2 |
| 10 | Illinois | 202.8 |
| 11 | Michigan | 201.3 |
| 12 | Louisiana | 200.6 |
| 13 | Ohio | 198.9 |
| 14 | Utah | 194.8 |
| 15 | Maryland | 175.7 |
| 16 | Virginia | 163.4 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | 160.1 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | 159.5 |
| 19 | Florida | 157.3 |
| 20 | Oregon | 155.9 |
| 21 | Missouri | 154.5 |
| 22 | Arizona | 146.2 |
| 23 | Minnesota | 143.4 |
| 24 | New Jersey | 142.2 |
| 25 | Kansas | 130.1 |
| 26 | Colorado | 127.5 |
| 27 | Nebraska | 122.2 |
| 28 | California | 117.5 |
| 29 | New York | 106.7 |
| 30 | Washington | 104.6 |
| 31 | Idaho | 102.1 |
| 32 | Texas | 98.9 |
| 33 | Iowa | 97.4 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | 94.6 |
| 35 | West Virginia | 90.6 |
| 36 | Connecticut | 90.4 |
| 37 | South Carolina | 86.3 |
| 38 | Wyoming | 86.1 |
| 39 | Rhode Island | 82.5 |
| 40 | Hawaii | 81.7 |
| 41 | North Carolina | 80.4 |
| 42 | North Dakota | 71.3 |
| 43 | South Dakota | 70.5 |
| 44 | Montana | 68.9 |
| 45 | Massachusetts | 64.8 |
| 46 | District of Columbia | 64.7 |
| 47 | New Mexico | 64.7 |
| 48 | New Hampshire | 61.1 |
| 49 | Maine | 40.0 |
| 50 | Vermont | 39.7 |
| 51 | Alaska | 29.4 |
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 374.4, while the trailing state, Alaska, posts 29.4 - a spread of 345.0 points and a ratio of roughly 12.7x between the extremes. The median jurisdiction sits near 127.5, 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 (Alaska, Vermont, Maine) have materially different reported rates in this fiscal-year extract. This ranking compares reported federal bankruptcy filings relative to each jurisdiction's population in the selected fiscal year. It is a descriptive comparison of court filings, not a measure of any resident's finances, legal options, or the cause of a state's position. Interpret the figures alongside their source vintage, population denominator, and the chapter-specific boards. 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 the bankruptcy filing rate measure?
The filing rate is the total number of bankruptcy petitions filed in a state's federal courts during a fiscal year, divided by the state's population and multiplied by 100,000. A rate of 300 means roughly 300 out of every 100,000 residents filed for bankruptcy that year. This includes all chapters: Chapter 7 (liquidation), Chapter 13 (repayment plan), Chapter 11 (reorganization), and Chapter 12 (family farmer/fisherman).
Why do rates differ between states?
This AOUSC-and-population dataset records outcomes, not their causes. It can show that reported filing rates differ, but it cannot establish why a state ranks where it does. A causal explanation requires additional, specifically sourced research.
Does this rate measure economic health?
No. The ranking measures reported federal bankruptcy filings per 100,000 residents during one fiscal year. It is not a measure of household debt, financial wellbeing, legal eligibility, or the likely outcome of an individual case.
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.
- Alabama leads this ranking at 374.4 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 lowest filing rate board next. Lowest 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.