How many companies are going bust?

Companies that cannot pay their debts

1,946

August 2026

Down from 2,007 in August 2025

Good signThe insolvency rate is lower than a year ago.Why this signal?

Where this sits in the last 10 years
10-year low 71810-year high 2,483
Published
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in 9 days

Recent figures may be revised.

Company insolvencies

Selected pointAugust 2026 · 1,946, down 61 on a year earlier

Good signNeutral

Good signNeutralWarning sign

Good signNeutralWarning sign

Good signNeutralWarning sign

Usual range (middle 80% of the last 10 years)

Each year adds up the months. 2026 so far covers January to August.

Each line is the running total from January. 2026 so far covers January to August.

Source: Insolvency Service

What this means for people

More companies that cannot pay their debts means more staff and suppliers can lose money or work.

A company is insolvent when it cannot pay its debts. The count is companies in England and Wales that entered a formal insolvency process in the month. Being wound up and going into administration are two examples.

Staff can lose their jobs, and people the company owes money to may not be paid in full.

Latest figures

See the figures as a table
The latest 12 readings, newest first.
PeriodValue
August 20261,946
July 20261,934
June 20261,850
May 20261,860
April 20262,083
March 20262,027
February 20261,897
January 20261,759
December 20251,692
November 20251,853
October 20252,017
September 20251,969
Each year adds up the months.
YearPeriod coveredValue
2026 so farJanuary to August15,356
2025January to December23,939
2024January to December23,881
2023January to December25,165
2022January to December22,134
2021January to December14,061
2020January to December12,630
2019January to December17,170
2018January to December16,052
2017January to December14,571
2016January to December14,670
2015January to December14,552
Each month
Each line is the running total from January.
Period2023202420252026 so far
January1,7711,8262,0371,759
February3,7414,0224,0653,656
March5,9455,8546,0655,683
April7,7497,9948,0807,766
May10,2329,93110,3069,626
June12,31712,37312,36411,476
July14,10514,41814,40113,410
August16,33916,31616,40815,356
September18,44918,25718,377
October20,70919,96620,394
November22,96921,95022,247
December25,16523,88123,939

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How to read this

A count, not a rate

The number of companies has more than doubled since 2008. The rate per 10,000 companies is fairer for comparing with the past.

Single months can jump

The count can move a lot from one month to the next. Look at the trend over several months.

Not every insolvent company closes

Some procedures, like a company voluntary arrangement, let a firm keep trading while it pays back its debts.

Source

Publisher
Insolvency Service
Official title
Company insolvencies, England and Wales, monthly total
Series
total_ew_sa
Geography
England and Wales
Status
Accredited official statistics
Cite this

Insolvency Service (2026) Company insolvencies, England and Wales, monthly total, August 2026 (series total_ew_sa).