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Bankruptcy Filings Fall 2 Percent

Bankruptcy filings in the 12-month period ending December 31, 2018, fell 2 percent, compared with bankruptcy cases filed in calendar year 2017. According to newly released data, 773,418 cases were filed in 2018, compared with 789,020 in the previous year.

Bankruptcy filings have steadily declined since reaching a peak in 2010. The number of bankruptcy filings is the lowest for any calendar year since 2006.

Business and Non-Business Filings,
Years Ending
December 31, 2014-2018
Year Business Non-Business Total
2018 22,232 751,186 773,418
2017 23,157 765,863 789,020
2016 24,114 770,846 794,960
2015 24,735 819,760 844,495
2014 26,983 909,812 936,795
Total Bankruptcy Filings By Chapter,
Years Ending
December 31, 2014-2018
Year Chapter
  7 11 12 13
2018 475,575 7,095 498 290,146
2017 486,347 7,442 501 294,637
2016 490,365 7,292 461 296,655
2015 535,047 7,241 407 301,705
2014 619,069 7,234 361 310,061

The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts also released the following statistics: 

Learn more about bankruptcy and bankruptcy court rules, or search historical data on bankruptcy filings.

Related Topics: Bankruptcy Filings