Monthly insolvency statistics – April 2026

Corporate Insolvencies

England and Wales

Corporate insolvencies in April 2026 totalled 2,085, 2% higher than March 2026 and 3% higher than April 2025, driven by increases in compulsory and creditors’ voluntary liquidations.

Creditors Voluntary Liquidations (“CVLs”) totalled 1,510, accounting for 72% of all company insolvencies. The number of CVLs was 3% higher than March 2026 but 2% lower than April 2025.

Compulsory Liquidations (“WUCs”) totalled 371, 19% higher than March 2026 and 2% higher than April 2025.

There were 183 Administration appointments, 21% lower than March 2026 but 78% higher than April 2025 and 47% higher than the 2025 monthly average. More than 100 connected companies in the Real Estate sector entered administration in March 2026, with a further 73 companies in the Real Estate sector entering administration in April 2026.

There were 20 Company Voluntary Arrangements (“CVA”s) in April 2026, the same as March 2026 and 17% lower than April 2025. Numbers remain low compared to historical levels.

There was 1 Receivership appointment in April 2026.

Scotland

In April 2026, there were 107 company insolvencies registered in Scotland, 6% higher than the number in April 2025. The total number of company insolvencies was comprised of 53 CVLs, 49 compulsory liquidations and five administrations. There were no CVAs or receivership appointments.

Northern Ireland

In April 2026 there were 40 company insolvencies registered in Northern Ireland, 33% higher than in April 2025. The total number of company insolvencies was comprised of 22 compulsory liquidations, 15 CVLs, two administrations and one CVA. There were no receivership appointments.

Personal Insolvencies

England and Wales

In April 2026, 10,920 individuals in England and Wales entered an insolvency process. This was 10% lower than March 2026 but 7% higher than April 2025.

The total included 701 bankruptcies, 4,033 Debt Relief Orders (DROs), and 6,186 Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs). Both DROs and IVAs decreased compared to March 2026. IVA numbers were in line with the average over the past year.

Over the 12 months to 30 April 2026, 1 in 376 people entered an insolvency (26.6 per 10,000), up from 1 in 415 adults (24.1 per 10,000) the year before.

There were 4,033 DROs in April 2026, 9% lower than the record high in March 2026. Monthly numbers have stayed high over the past two years following the removal of the DRO entrance fee in April 2024.

There were 701 bankruptcies in April 2026, a 2% increase on March 2026 and 12% higher than April 2025. Bankruptcy numbers in April 2026 were higher than the average in the past 12 months. There were 602 resulting from debtor applications and 99 resulting from creditor petitions.

Bankruptcies remain at around half the levels seen before 2020 but were slightly higher than April 2025.

There were 6,186 IVAs in April 2026, 11% lower than March 2026 but 10% higher than April 2025. Overall, IVA numbers in early 2026 were above the 2025 monthly average.

There were 4,862 Breathing Space registrations in April 2026, 33% lower than April 2025. Most were standard registrations (4,736), with 126 mental health applications.

Since May 2021, StepChange has registered 55% of breathing spaces. However, changes to its suitability criteria in November 2025 has led to a reduction in the volume of applications.

Scotland

The Accountant in Bankruptcy produces individual insolvency statistics on a quarterly basis. Therefore, the numbers in this section are only updated once every 3 months.

The quarters referred to are calendar year quarters, such that Q1 2026 covers the period 1 January to 31 March 2026. In Q1 2026, there were 2,003 individual insolvencies in Scotland, which was 20% higher than in the same quarter of 2025.

The individual insolvencies were comprised of 1,273 protected trust deeds and 730 bankruptcies (also known as sequestrations), of which 381 went into bankruptcy via the minimal asset process route. The rules regarding bankruptcy differ to those in England and Wales, so numbers of bankruptcies are not directly comparable.

Northern Ireland

In April 2026, there were 166 individual insolvencies in Northern Ireland. This was 35% higher than in April 2025. There were 129 IVAs, 23 bankruptcies and 14 DROs.