Gov ScoreAustralia

Condition

Company insolvencies

Are more businesses going under?

Company insolvencies: 4,912 in 2021-22, 15k in 2024-25.

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Latest
14,722companies entering external administration for the first time · 2024-25 financial year
Since the government took office
Worse+199.7%4,912 → 14,722 (2021-22 → 2024-25)Starting point: Insolvencies in 2021-22 were unusually low because of pandemic support and a pause in tax-debt collection.
Over the past year
Worse+33.2%11,053 → 14,722 (2023-24 → 2024-25)

Companies entering external administration

  • Financial-year totals

This series starts in 2018-19, so this shows its full history.

What this is

The number of companies entering formal insolvency (administration, liquidation or receivership) for the first time each year, as recorded by the corporate regulator ASIC.

Why it matters

Business failures mean lost jobs, unpaid suppliers and owners losing their livelihoods. A sustained rise is a warning sign about costs, tax debts and the health of small business.

More from the figures

  • Insolvencies rose from 4,912 in 2021-22 to 7,942, then 11,053, then 14,722 in 2024-25, 82% above the pre-COVID level.
  • 2020-21 and 2021-22 were unusually low because of temporary COVID insolvency relief, so we compare with 2018-19.
  • ASIC recorded 12,819 in the first 11 months of 2025-26 (to 31 May 2026).

How it’s calculated

ASIC Series 1: companies entering external administration or having a controller appointed for the first time, by financial year.

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