Bankruptcy Filings by State
Nonbusiness bankruptcy filings trends have improved over the last two years on a national level. Based on the most recent annualized 3rd quarter 2014 data, there were an estimated 133 personal filings per 1,000 people in the United States. These figures represent a 13% decrease compared to 2013, and a 23% decrease versus 2012.
By state, there were an average of 3 nonbusiness filings recorded per 1,000 people. Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia had the highest filing rates by state, with metrics that were in aggregate approximately twice the national average. Alaska, North Dakota, and Vermont reported the least bankruptcy filings per capita. Most states saw a decrease in their estimated 2014 filings compared to 2013; numbers in Vermont, New Hampshire, and California improved the most over the previous year. Louisiana was the only state to register a small increase of 2% in their year-over-year comparison.
Please see the table below for bankruptcy filings by state for the last three years, increase or decrease compared to 2013 data, and how each state places from the highest bankruptcy per capita to the least.
| State | 2014* | 2013 | 2012 | 2014* vs. 2013 | Rank |
| Alabama | 5.38 | 5.55 | 5.73 | -3% | 2 |
| Alaska | 0.60 | 0.72 | 0.96 | -17% | 50 |
| Arizona | 2.90 | 3.40 | 4.18 | -15% | 21 |
| Arkansas | 3.58 | 4.04 | 4.26 | -11% | 10 |
| California | 2.49 | 3.44 | 4.76 | -28% | 28 |
| Colorado | 3.26 | 4.16 | 4.99 | -22% | 15 |
| Connecticut | 1.82 | 1.91 | 2.20 | -5% | 32 |
| Delaware | 2.27 | 2.65 | 3.19 | -14% | 30 |
| Florida | 3.23 | 3.76 | 4.06 | -14% | 16 |
| Georgia | 5.30 | 5.67 | 6.35 | -7% | 3 |
| Hawaii | 1.23 | 1.42 | 1.83 | -13% | 47 |
| Idaho | 2.84 | 3.34 | 3.82 | -15% | 23 |
| Illinois | 4.54 | 5.05 | 5.22 | -10% | 5 |
| Indiana | 4.42 | 5.06 | 5.43 | -13% | 6 |
| Iowa | 1.58 | 1.79 | 2.00 | -12% | 37 |
| Kansas | 2.68 | 2.87 | 3.07 | -7% | 25 |
| Kentucky | 3.61 | 4.12 | 4.45 | -12% | 9 |
| Louisiana | 3.43 | 3.36 | 3.44 | 2% | 14 |
| Maine | 1.56 | 1.71 | 2.16 | -9% | 38 |
| Maryland & DC | 3.22 | 3.81 | 3.94 | -15% | 17 |
| Massachusetts | 1.43 | 1.81 | 2.45 | -21% | 44 |
| Michigan | 3.22 | 4.17 | 4.92 | -23% | 17 |
| Minnesota | 2.06 | 2.58 | 3.05 | -20% | 31 |
| Mississippi | 3.66 | 4.20 | 4.10 | -13% | 7 |
| Missouri | 3.47 | 3.89 | 4.57 | -11% | 13 |
| Montana | 1.41 | 1.69 | 2.00 | -17% | 45 |
| Nebraska | 2.34 | 2.68 | 3.04 | -13% | 29 |
| Nevada | 3.65 | 4.80 | 6.24 | -24% | 8 |
| New Hampshire | 1.56 | 2.26 | 2.80 | -31% | 38 |
| New Jersey | 2.94 | 3.20 | 3.44 | -8% | 19 |
| New Mexico | 1.77 | 2.01 | 2.22 | -12% | 34 |
| New York | 1.53 | 1.79 | 2.01 | -15% | 40 |
| North Carolina | 1.65 | 1.83 | 2.11 | -10% | 36 |
| North Dakota | 0.91 | 1.10 | 1.35 | -17% | 49 |
| Ohio | 3.49 | 4.06 | 4.29 | -14% | 12 |
| Oklahoma | 2.55 | 2.69 | 3.06 | -5% | 27 |
| Oregon | 2.94 | 3.37 | 3.81 | -13% | 19 |
| Pennsylvania | 1.80 | 2.05 | 2.21 | -12% | 33 |
| Rhode Island | 2.62 | 3.24 | 3.75 | -19% | 26 |
| South Carolina | 1.45 | 1.56 | 1.63 | -7% | 43 |
| South Dakota | 1.46 | 1.48 | 1.80 | -1% | 42 |
| Tennessee | 6.22 | 6.39 | 6.73 | -3% | 1 |
| Texas | 1.24 | 1.43 | 1.75 | -13% | 46 |
| Utah | 4.77 | 4.94 | 5.57 | -3% | 4 |
| Vermont | 0.92 | 1.40 | 1.56 | -34% | 48 |
| Virginia | 2.78 | 3.11 | 3.51 | -11% | 24 |
| Washington | 2.86 | 3.47 | 3.91 | -18% | 22 |
| West Virginia | 1.68 | 1.91 | 2.09 | -12% | 35 |
| Wisconsin | 3.58 | 3.91 | 4.33 | -8% | 10 |
| Wyoming | 1.47 | 2.03 | 2.10 | -28% | 41 |
| National Total | 133.37 | 152.88 | 172.44 | -13% | |
| State Average | 2.67 | 3.06 | 3.45 | -13% |
Notes: 2014 data is based on annualized 3rd quarter of 2014 statistics. Data not available for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands
Source: FDIC Data as of 3rd quarter of 2014