According to statistics provided by the United States Courts, the five states with the most bankruptcy filings in 2017 are again at the top of the list for 2018. It’s no surprise that each of these states has a large population relative to other states, but the numbers are nevertheless interesting. The Legal Definitions Data Team has the whole story.
The Five States With the Most Bankruptcy Filings
The five states with the most bankruptcy filings in 2018 are as follows:
- California: 70,198
- Illinois: 50,291
- Georgia: 45,829
- Florida: 41,770
- Ohio: 38,050
Once again, California tops the list. In fact, they dwarf the most states when it comes to bankruptcy filing numbers. The largest single federal district is with the second state on our list – Illinois Northern District. With over 41,000 filings in this Chicago-area district, the Northern District of Illinois has more bankruptcy filings than most states. The top three is rounded out by Georgia, Florida, and Ohio. Over the years, these three states have frequently swapped positions. Other states that nearly made the list are New York and Texas.
Other Interesting Statistics
There are other statistics that stand out despite not registering in the top five. For example, Nevada ranks relatively low on the list for 2018 despite several years of out sized bankruptcy filings due to the housing collapse. Now that the collapse is in the rear-view mirror, Nevada seems to have fallen back into the range of filings you would expect given its population. In total, there were 8,872 bankruptcy filings in Nevada in 2018. Of those, 6,925 were chapter 7 filings. In total, all but 257 of those filings were for individuals compared to business filings.
The district with the fewest filings? The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, which saw exactly four bankruptcy filings in 2018.
Where did these numbers come from?
Interested in doing your own research? You can review the 2018 bankruptcy statistics compiled by the United State Courts at their official website.
