WASHINGTON, D.C. (LOOTPRESS) — Personal and business bankruptcy filings climbed 10.6 percent in the twelve-month period ending Sept. 30, 2025, according to new data released by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. The increase marks the third straight year of rising bankruptcy activity following a decade-long decline.
In total, 557,376 bankruptcy cases were filed during the period, up from 504,112 filings recorded the year before.
Steady Climb After Historic Lows
The new figures reflect a continued rebound in bankruptcy filings after numbers plummeted to historic lows during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Total filings peaked at nearly 1.6 million in 2010 before dropping steadily for more than a decade. The downward trend reached its lowest point in June 2022, when filings hit 380,634 — the smallest total in more than 15 years.
Since then, filings have risen every quarter, though they remain far below the levels seen in the early 2010s.
Non-Business Filings See Double-Digit Jump
Non-business, or personal, bankruptcy cases accounted for the vast majority of filings in 2025. Those cases rose 10.8 percent, increasing from 481,350 to 533,337 year-over-year. Analysts often attribute increases in personal bankruptcies to household debt pressures, rising interest rates, and elevated consumer costs.
Business Bankruptcies Continue Upward Trend
Business-related bankruptcy filings also increased, rising 5.6 percent from 22,762 in 2024 to 24,039 in 2025. The uptick follows two years of significant growth in commercial bankruptcies, with filings rising steadily as companies nationwide grapple with higher borrowing costs and lingering post-pandemic financial strain.
Breakdown by Chapter
Filings across all major bankruptcy chapters showed varying trends:
| Chapter | 2024 Filings | 2025 Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 7 | 298,644 | 344,825 |
| Chapter 11 | 9,012 | 8,937 |
| Chapter 12 | 202 | 293 |
| Chapter 13 | 195,971 | 203,118 |
Chapter 7 liquidations, the most common type of personal bankruptcy, increased significantly. Chapter 13 filings — which allow individuals to restructure debt — also rose, suggesting more households are seeking structured repayment plans.
Chapter 12 bankruptcies, designed for family farmers and fishermen, saw a notable increase as well, though total filings remain small.
Five-Year Comparison of Total Filings
| Year | Business | Non-Business | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 24,039 | 533,337 | 557,376 |
| 2024 | 22,762 | 481,350 | 504,112 |
| 2023 | 17,051 | 416,607 | 433,658 |
| 2022 | 13,125 | 370,685 | 383,810 |
| 2021 | 16,140 | 418,400 | 434,540 |
Additional Data Available
The Administrative Office also released supplemental tables comparing quarterly and monthly filing totals, including:
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Business and non-business filings for the year ending Sept. 30, 2025 (Table F-2, 12-Month)
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Year-over-year comparisons for 2024 and 2025 (Table F)
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Filings for the most recent quarter and each individual month (Table F-2, 3-Month; July–September tables)
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Filing counts by county (Table F-5A)
The judiciary also continues to provide public resources explaining bankruptcy law, including the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, Bankruptcy Basics, and historical caseload statistics.
