Nevada, Tennessee remain highest per capita bankruptcy states

California and Illinois jump near the top; Alaska, South Carolina remain at the bottom

By Tyler Metzger

Editor's note: See the most recent bankruptcy statistic story.

Bankruptcy-prone Nevada, Tennessee and Georgia remain the top three states for per capita bankruptcy filings, according to newly released data summarizing bankruptcies in the first quarter of 2010.

California and Illinois made the biggest jumps near the top of the rankings, moving from 12th to seventh place, and 11th to eighth place, respectively.

According to data from Automated Access to Court Electronic Records, total bankruptcies reached 378,990 in the first quarter of 2010, up from 325,815 in the first quarter of 2009. Nevada remains firmly in first place with 10.3 filings per capita, and Tennessee remains second with more than eight bankruptcies per 1,000 residents.

Alaska and South Carolina remain the states with the lowest per capita filings. In Alaska, there were just 1.5 filings per capita, meaning that that the average Nevadan is about seven times more likely to file for bankruptcy than the average Alaskan.

Idaho, meanwhile, fell the furthest in the rankings. It dropped from 18th to 27th place.

What about your state? Use the table below to see how your state ranks.

See related: Bankruptcies continue upward march in 2010, Nevada surpasses Tennessee as highest per capita bankruptcy state, Bankruptcy filings, state by state, 2005-2010, 5 tips for those considering bankruptcy, 4 ways to re-establish credit after bankruptcy, 5 misconceptions after credit after bankruptcy

Published: April 14, 2010

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