Insolvencies and Bankruptcies in the UK and Scotland

7th July 2025

Overall, both corporate and personal insolvencies rose steadily from the pandemic lows in 2020, peaking around 2023, and remain elevated despite a mild pull-back in early 2025.

Business insolvencies are at their highest since 2011, with volumes in 2023 up 43% on pre-covid levels.

In January 2025, company insolvencies in England & Wales reached 1,971—6% higher than December 2024 and 11% above January 2024.

Individual insolvencies in England & Wales numbered 9,706 in January 2025, 12% above January 2024 (though 3% below the previous month).

The 12-month rolling personal-insolvency rate rose from 21.5 per 10,000 adults (Jan 2024) to 24.2 per 10,000 (Jan 2025).

Scotland
Scotland's corporate insolvency count has inched up year-on-year, while personal insolvencies saw modest growth in 2023-24 before easing in early 2025.

Corporate insolvencies for 2024-25 totaled 1,175, a slight rise on 1,168 in 2023-24 (and up nearly 4% on 2022-23).

In 2023–24 there were 8,082 personal insolvencies—1.0% more than 2022–23—with bankruptcies rising 5.9% to 2,495.

Q1 2025 saw 1,673 personal insolvencies in Scotland, down 11% on Q1 2024, driven by fewer Protected Trust Deeds and bankruptcies.

Scotland's 12-month corporate-insolvency rate eased slightly to 51.3 per 10,000 companies (Jan 2025) from 52.6 (Jan 2024).

Despite occasional month-to-month dips, both the UK and Scotland continue to see insolvency levels well above pre-pandemic norms. Factors such as high borrowing costs, inflationary pressures and cost-of-living strains underpin this elevated trend.

Would you like to explore sectoral breakdowns, regional hotspots, or projections for how insolvency levels might evolve as interest rates fall?

United Kingdom
Company Insolvencies (January 2025)
Total UK company insolvencies: 2,074

England & Wales: 1,971

Scotland: 75

Northern Ireland: 28

Personal Insolvencies (January 2025)
Total UK individual insolvencies: 9,847

England & Wales: 9,706

Northern Ireland: 141

Bankruptcies (January 2025)
Total UK personal bankruptcies: 612

England & Wales: 592

Northern Ireland: 20

Scotland
Company Insolvencies (January 2025)
Company insolvencies in Scotland: 75

Personal Insolvencies (Q4 2024-25: January–March 2025)
Total personal insolvencies (bankruptcies & protected trust deeds): 1,673

Bankruptcies (Q4 2024-25: January–March 2025)
Bankruptcies awarded: 595

More information at https://www.thegazette.co.uk/all-notices/content/104340