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Bankruptcy Filings Drop 6.3 Percent

Bankruptcy filings fell 6.3 percent for the 12-month period ending Dec. 31, 2022, continuing a fall that coincided with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. But individual filings under Chapter 13 increased significantly.

Annual bankruptcy filings in calendar year 2022 totaled 387,721, compared with 413,616 cases in 2021, according to statistics released by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.

Business filings fell 6 percent, from 14,347 to 13,481 in the year ending Dec. 31, 2022. Non-business bankruptcy filings fell 6.3 percent, to 374,240, compared with 399,269 in the previous year.

Filings for Chapters 11 and 13 both increased in the year ending Dec. 31, 2022. Chapter 11, which provides for reorganization, usually involving a corporation, increased 1.7 percent, to 4,918, compared with 4,836 in the previous year. Chapter 13 filings increased 30.9 percent, from 120,002 to 157,087 in the year ending Dec. 31, 2022. This chapter of the Bankruptcy Code provides for adjustment of debts of an individual with regular income.

The following tables are available:

  • Business and non-business bankruptcy filings for the 12-month period ending Dec. 31, 2022 (Table F-2, 12-Month);
  • Bankruptcy data for the twelve-month periods ending in December 2021 and in December 2022 (Table F);
  • Filings by quarter, (Table F-2, 3-Month); and filings by month (Table F-2, October, November, and December)
  • Bankruptcy filings by county (Report F-5A).
Business and Non-Business Filings,
Years Ending
December 31, 2018-2022
Year Business Non-Business Total
2022 13,481 374,240 387,721
2021 14,347 399,269 413,616
2020 21,655 522,808 544,463
2019 22,780 752,160 774,940
2018 22,232 751,186 773,418
Total Bankruptcy Filings By Chapter,
Years Ending
December 31, 2018-2022
Year Chapter
  7 11 12 13
2022 225,455 4,918 169 157,087
2021 288,327 4,836 276 120,002
2020 378,953 8,333 560 156,377
2019 480,206 7,020 599 286,979
2018 475,575 7,095 498 290,146

For more on bankruptcy and its chapters, view the following resources:

Related Topics: Bankruptcy Filings