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.

329.7
Leader: Alabama
172.8
Median state
51
Jurisdictions
3.7×
Top-to-bottom spread

Data updated August 2026

According to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AOUSC), 485,341 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 329.7 per 100k, about 3.7× the rate of South Dakota (89.3). South Dakota is the #51 bottom of this complete jurisdiction list. The median state sits near 172.8.

329.7
Alabama (highest)
89.3
South Dakota (lowest)
172.8
median jurisdiction
3.7×
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.

Highest 5 states by filing rate (per 100k) Horizontal bar chart of the top 5 items by value (per 100k). Highest 5 states by filing rate (per 100k) 1. Alabama 329.7 2. Georgia 315.7 3. Nevada 308.1 4. Tennessee 306.5 5. Mississippi 283.1 Highest 5 of 51 jurisdictions; full ranking below. 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: 89–137 137–185 185–234 234–282 282–330
View all 51 states as a list
  1. Alabama: 330
  2. Georgia: 316
  3. Nevada: 308
  4. Tennessee: 307
  5. Mississippi: 283
  6. Louisiana: 250
  7. Oklahoma: 232
  8. Utah: 217
  9. Arizona: 200
  10. Hawaii: 198
  11. Kentucky: 197
  12. Indiana: 193
  13. Kansas: 191
  14. Arkansas: 190
  15. Oregon: 185
  16. Missouri: 184
  17. Delaware: 183
  18. West Virginia: 183
  19. Ohio: 182
  20. New Mexico: 182
  21. South Carolina: 175
  22. Illinois: 174
  23. Florida: 174
  24. Michigan: 174
  25. Nebraska: 173
  26. New Jersey: 173
  27. Alaska: 169
  28. Maryland: 166
  29. California: 162
  30. Wyoming: 158
  31. Colorado: 157
  32. North Carolina: 157
  33. Virginia: 154
  34. Iowa: 150
  35. Idaho: 150
  36. Minnesota: 147
  37. Washington: 146
  38. Wisconsin: 143
  39. Vermont: 142
  40. Pennsylvania: 142
  41. New York: 135
  42. Maine: 135
  43. New Hampshire: 130
  44. Rhode Island: 130
  45. Texas: 129
  46. Montana: 127
  47. Massachusetts: 112
  48. District of Columbia: 109
  49. Connecticut: 106
  50. North Dakota: 105
  51. South Dakota: 89
# State Per 100K
1 Alabama 329.7
2 Georgia 315.7
3 Nevada 308.1
4 Tennessee 306.5
5 Mississippi 283.1
6 Louisiana 249.7
7 Oklahoma 232.4
8 Utah 217.1
9 Arizona 199.5
10 Hawaii 198.0
11 Kentucky 197.1
12 Indiana 193.0
13 Kansas 191.1
14 Arkansas 190.4
15 Oregon 184.7
16 Missouri 184.3
17 Delaware 183.3
18 West Virginia 182.6
19 Ohio 181.8
20 New Mexico 181.7
21 South Carolina 175.3
22 Illinois 174.0
23 Florida 173.7
24 Michigan 173.6
25 Nebraska 172.9
26 New Jersey 172.8
27 Alaska 169.4
28 Maryland 165.7
29 California 162.3
30 Wyoming 157.7
31 Colorado 157.2
32 North Carolina 157.2
33 Virginia 154.0
34 Iowa 150.3
35 Idaho 149.7
36 Minnesota 146.8
37 Washington 146.2
38 Wisconsin 142.5
39 Vermont 142.2
40 Pennsylvania 142.1
41 New York 135.0
42 Maine 134.9
43 New Hampshire 129.9
44 Rhode Island 129.7
45 Texas 129.2
46 Montana 126.6
47 Massachusetts 111.7
48 District of Columbia 109.3
49 Connecticut 106.2
50 North Dakota 104.7
51 South Dakota 89.3

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 329.7, while the trailing state, South Dakota, posts 89.3 - a spread of 240.4 points and a ratio of roughly 3.7x between the extremes. The median jurisdiction sits near 172.8, giving a quick sense of where a "typical" state falls versus the leaders and laggards.

The top of this list (Alabama, Georgia, Nevada) and the bottom of this list (South Dakota, North Dakota, Connecticut) 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

Lowest Filing Rate Highest Chapter 7 Rate Highest Chapter 13 Rate
All States
Bankruptcy data by state
National Trends
Historical bankruptcy filing trends
Guides
Understanding bankruptcy chapters

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

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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.