TABLE 1—

Share of Debtors Citing Specific Contributors to Their Bankruptcy: United States, 2013–2016

Reasons Cited as Contributors to Bankruptcy	(A) Very Much Agree, %	(B) Somewhat Agree, %	(A) + (B) Very Much or Somewhat Agree, %
Medical-related reasons
Medical expenses	37.0	21.5	58.5
Medical problems causing work loss	27.9	16.5	44.3
Either of above	44.2	22.3	66.5
Change in family size such as birth or death	13.7	7.9	21.6
Any of above	50.1	21.4	71.5
Other reasons
Income loss (including persons with medically related work loss)	61.5	16.3	77.8
Unaffordable mortgage or foreclosure	29.2	15.8	45.0
Spending/living beyond means	17.2	27.2	44.4
Student loans	14.3	11.1	25.4
Divorce/separation	18.5	5.9	24.4
Tried to help friends/relatives	12.7	15.7	28.4

Note. The sample size of the survey was n = 910.