Explore Interactive Consumer Insolvency Statistics
Explore official Canadian consumer insolvency statistics with the Interactive Insolvency Data Explorer. Search, compare, and visualize insolvency filings by province, Census Metropolitan Area (CMA), city and Forward Sortation Area (FSA). Built using data published by the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada (OSB), this interactive tool helps insolvency professionals, researchers, journalists and the public analyze trends over time.
The dashboard is built from publicly available consumer insolvency statistics published by the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada (OSB). It includes information on consumer bankruptcies and consumer proposals filed across Canada, allowing users to explore and compare trends at the national, provincial and local levels.
The Interactive Insolvency Data Explorer is designed for insolvency professionals, researchers, journalists, lenders, economists, students and anyone interested in Canadian economic trends. It provides a fast and intuitive way to search and visualize consumer insolvency activity across Canada. If you are looking for information about Canadian insolvency law rather than statistics, you can also explore BIA Navigator, the site’s AI-powered Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act research tool.
Use the Interactive Insolvency Data Explorer to:
- Search consumer insolvency statistics across Canada.
- Visualize bankruptcy and consumer proposal statistics by province, CMA, city and FSA.
- Compare insolvency filings for up to three cities, CMAs or provinces.
- Compare city growth to provincial growth using our “Indexed comparison with province” feature.
- Note monthly and annual insolvency trends.
- Download charts for your own analysis.
All statistics are based on official data published by the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada (OSB).
What Is Consumer Insolvency?
Consumer insolvency occurs when an individual is unable to repay their debts as they become due. In Canada, the two most common formal insolvency proceedings are:
Consumer Proposals
A consumer proposal is a legally binding settlement between a debtor and their unsecured creditors. The debtor offers to repay a portion of the debt over time while retaining their assets.
Consumer Bankruptcies
Bankruptcy is a legal process that provides relief from overwhelming debt while offering creditors a structured method of recovery. Bankruptcy may be appropriate for an individual who cannot realistically repay their debts through a consumer proposal or other means.
Over the past decade, consumer proposals have become increasingly common relative to bankruptcies in many parts of Canada. The dashboard allows users to explore these trends at the national, provincial, metropolitan, city, and local levels.
Understanding the Geographic Areas
The dashboard supports several levels of geographic analysis:
- Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) – Examine trends within major urban regions such as Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, and Halifax.
- City – Analyze insolvency activity for individual municipalities.
- Forward Sortation Area (FSA) – Review data based on the first three characters of many Canadian postal codes, such as H3Z in Montreal or V6B in Vancouver. FSA-level analysis provides a more localized view of insolvency activity and can reveal trends that may not be visible when examining larger geographic areas.
How to Use the Interactive Insolvency Data Explorer
Use the dashboard to:
- Visualize insolvency trends.
- Analyze changes in consumer proposals and bankruptcies over time.
- Review historical insolvency statistics dating back to 2013.
- Identify areas experiencing unusually high or low insolvency levels.
- Explore long-term economic and financial trends affecting Canadian households.
The dashboard includes charts, rankings, and summary statistics designed to help users better understand insolvency activity within their selected area.
Interactive Insolvency Data Explorer Dashboard
If the dashboard does not display correctly on your device, you may open it directly on shinyapps.io. To open the dashboard:
About the Data
The information presented in this dashboard is derived from official consumer insolvency statistics published by the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada (OSB). The data has been reorganized and visualized to make regional and historical trends easier to explore while preserving the underlying official statistics.
The data is compiled and organized to make local and regional insolvency trends easier to analyze. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, users should refer to official OSB publications for authoritative information.
Why Insolvency Statistics Matter
Consumer insolvency statistics provide valuable insight into the financial health of Canadian households. Changes in insolvency activity may reflect broader economic conditions such as:
- Employment trends
- Interest rates
- Inflation
- Housing costs
- Consumer debt levels
- Regional economic conditions
Monitoring insolvency trends can help identify emerging financial pressures affecting consumers and communities across Canada.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is the dashboard updated?
Monthly, after new insolvency statistics are released by the OSB.
What is an FSA?
A Forward Sortation Area consists of the first three characters of a Canadian postal code.
Can I download charts?
You can copy or print them.
Related Resources
If you are interested in learning more about Canadian insolvency law and practice, you may also wish to explore the BIA Navigator available on this website. BIA Navigator is an AI-powered research tool designed to help users navigate the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, directives, forms, rules, and related insolvency resources.
Disclaimer
This dashboard is provided for general information and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, financial, accounting, or insolvency advice. Users should not rely on the information presented as a substitute for professional advice tailored to their particular circumstances.
Although the underlying data originates from public sources believed to be reliable, no representation or warranty is made regarding completeness, accuracy, or suitability for any particular purpose.