Monthly insolvency statistics – August 2025

Corporate Insolvencies

England and Wales

The number of registered company insolvencies in England and Wales was 2,048 in August 2025, 2% lower than in July 2025 (2,083) and 6% higher than the same month in the previous year (1,933 in August 2024).

Monthly company insolvency numbers in the first eight months of 2025 were slightly higher than in 2024 and at a similar level to 2023, which saw a 30-year high annual number of insolvencies.

In August 2025, CVLs accounted for 78% of all company insolvencies (1,600). The number of CVLs increased by 1% from July 2025 and was 5% higher than the same month last year (August 2024).

The number of compulsory liquidations in August 2025 was 9% lower than July 2025, but 11% higher than in August 2024 and 15% higher than the 2024 monthly average.

There were 121 Administration appointments, 17% lower than July 2025 but 6% higher than in August 2024. However, the average monthly number of Administrations so far this year is slightly lower than the 2024 average. 

Finally, there were only 16 CVAs in August 2025, 33% higher than in July 2025 but 20% lower than in August 2024. 

Scotland

In August 2025, there were 95 company insolvencies registered in Scotland, 7% lower than the number in August 2024. The total number of company insolvencies was comprised of 47 CVLs, 43 compulsory liquidations and five administrations. There were no CVAs or receivership appointments.

Northern Ireland

In August 2025, there were 12 company insolvencies registered in Northern Ireland, 9% higher than in August 2025. The total number of company insolvencies was comprised of one compulsory liquidation, 8 CVLs and three Administrations. There were no CVAs or receivership appointments.

Personal Insolvencies

England and Wales

There were 11,348 individual insolvencies in August 2025, with very similar figures in the previous months. There appears to be very little monthly movement in the numbers for each procedure at present, which might indicate that those procedures are becoming more appropriate in addressing the various needs of indebted individuals.

The number of Debt Relief Orders (DRO’s) reached a record high 4,239, exceeding the previous high from June 2024. 

Figures produced by the Insolvency Service recently revealed that 429 DRO applications had been refused or revoked between April 2024 and March 2025. This gives creditors some reassurance that the process is being properly monitored.

With DRO’s now increasingly being the debt solution of choice for many, bankruptcy numbers have decreased, with the total number of bankruptcies in August (622), being significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels.

In August, there were 138 creditor petitions, slightly lower to the 2024 monthly average of 153, with HMRC leading the push on filing petitions.

Debtors’ applications are being replaced in the main by DRO applications. However, debtors’ bankruptcy applications increased to 484 in August.

Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVA) numbers over the past year have been lower than during 2022, however, they are steadily increasing with 6,487 registered in August 2025 being 27% higher than August 2024.

A revised IVA protocol came into effect on 1 July 2025 which aims to bring further clarity and certainty for both consumers and creditors. However, it remains to be seen how these changes will affect future IVA numbers.

There were 7,395 Breathing Space (BS) registrations in August. Standard BS registrations stood at 7,290 and there were 105 Mental Health BS registrations. The number of BS applications remain high although this procedure is merely a pause in the process and the individuals concerned will still have to deal with their indebtedness.

The numbers suggest that those exiting a BS application are being sign-posted to a DRO as their chosen exit route once the BS period had expired.

Plans to modernise the current Personal Insolvency framework could result in a single gateway to enable people to access independent, regulated debt advice, via a digital platform, or dovetailed with the current BS scheme, which could see the removal of previous barriers into appropriate and regulated insolvency procedures.

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 Q2 2025 covers the period 1 April to 30 June 2025. In Q2 2025, there were 1,935 individual insolvencies in Scotland, which was 6% lower than in the same quarter of 2024.

The individual insolvencies were comprised of 1,196 protected trust deeds and 739 bankruptcies (also known as sequestrations), of which 400 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 August 2025, there were 134 individual insolvencies in Northern Ireland. This was 49% higher than in August 2024. There were 109 IVAs, 6 bankruptcies and 19 DROs.