Individual insolvencies by location, age and gender, England and Wales, 2024
Source: gov.uk (2025-03-25)

Official statistics for individual insolvencies in England and Wales from 2014 to 2024, broken down by region, local authority areas, parliamentary constituencies; age; gender; and electoral ward. The number of breathing spaces obtained under the Debt Respite Scheme, broken down by location and age, are also included.

This publication contains five sets of data tables, which are linked to on this page:
- Individual insolvencies by Location, England and Wales, 2014 to 2024 contains a time series with breakdowns of insolvency numbers and rates by country, region, county and local authority
- Individual insolvencies by Age and Gender, England and Wales, 2014 to 2024 contains a time series with breakdowns of insolvency numbers and rates by age and gender
- Individual insolvencies by Location, Age and Gender, England and Wales, 2024 contains breakdowns of insolvency numbers and rates by location, age and gender for 2024
- Individual insolvencies by Parliamentary Constituency, England and Wales, 2014 to 2024 contains a time series with breakdowns of insolvency numbers and rates by country, region and parliamentary constituency
- Individual Insolvency Statistics by Ward, England and Wales, 2014 to 2024 contains a time series with breakdowns of insolvency numbers by ward
Main Messages for England and Wales

National and regional summary

In 2024, the rate of individual insolvency in England and Wales was 24.1 per 10,000 adults, meaning that one in every 415 adults entered an insolvency procedure during that year. This was higher than the one in 467 adults (21.4 per 10,000) in 2023.

At regional level, the North East of England had the highest individual insolvency rate (33.4 per 10,000 adults), while individuals in London had the lowest (15.5 per 10,000). The North East has been the region with the highest rate of insolvency every year since 2008, while London has been the region with the lowest rate each year since the series began in 2000. The other seven English regions, as well as Wales, all had rates between 21.6 and 28.5 per 10,000. The insolvency rate was higher than the five-year (2019 to 2023) average in six regions of England and lower in three regions and Wales.

Local authority and parliamentary constituency areas

Rates varied by local authority from 9.5 per 10,000 (1 in 1,055 adults) in Kingston Upon Thames to 64.0 per 10,000 (1 in 156 adults) in Halton.

The local authorities with the highest rates of individual insolvency were mainly in the North of England, including Halton (64.0 per 10,000), Kingston upon Hull (53.5) and Blackpool (50.1). The local authorities with the lowest rates were mostly London boroughs. Six of the seven local authorities with the lowest insolvency rates were London boroughs. Outside London, the local authorities with the lowest rates were Epsom and Ewell, and Waverley.

The geographical distribution of insolvency rates in 2024 was similar to previous years. For the majority of local authorities, the rate in 2024 was between 1.5 per 10,000 adults lower and 2.0 per 10,000 adults higher than the five-year average.

Rates varied by parliamentary constituency from 7.5 per 10,000 (1 in 1,335 adults) in Sheffield Hallam to 69.0 per 10,000 (1 in 145 adults) in Kingston upon Hull East.

All of the top five parliamentary constituencies with the highest insolvency rates were in the north of England. Four out of the five parliamentary constituencies with the lowest insolvency rates were in London.

Age and gender

The female insolvency rate (26.5 per 10,000) was higher than the male rate (22.1 per 10,000) for the eleventh successive year. Women had a higher rate of insolvency than men in all age groups except for those aged 65 and over.

Women were more likely than men to have a debt relief order or individual voluntary arrangement, while men were more likely than women to become bankrupt. Historically, men were more likely to enter bankruptcy than have a debt relief order, however the reverse has been true since 2021.

Insolvency rates were highest for adults between 25 and 44 and lowest for adults aged 65 and over. This has been the case since 2006.

Individual voluntary arrangements were the most common type of insolvency in younger age groups, while debt relief orders (DROs) were the most common type for adults over the age of 55. The proportion of insolvencies that were bankruptcies was higher for older adults, but bankruptcies were the least common type of insolvency for all age groups.

Breathing space

In 2024, one in 543 adults (a rate of 18.4 per 10,000) in England and Wales entered a breathing space under the Debt Respite Scheme.

The North East was the region with the highest breathing space registration rate in 2024, at 24.2 per 10,000 adults respectively, while London had the lowest, at 13.1 per 10,000. Halton was the local authority with the highest breathing space rate, this has been the case every year since the introduction of breathing space in 2021.

As with insolvency, breathing space rates were highest for 25 to 44 year-olds and lowest for those over 65.