Startup survival rates, mapped
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About half of new U.S. businesses make it to their fifth year, per the latest federal data.
Why it matters: Keeping a new business alive is no small feat — and getting even harder amid the government shutdown for companies that rely on federal contracts or aid, Axios' Madison Mills reports.
By the numbers: West Virginia (57.6%), Connecticut (57.5%), and Alaska and Pennsylvania (both 56%) have the highest five-year business survival rates among U.S. states.
- Washington (41.1%), Missouri (43.2%) and Washington, D.C. (44.7%) have the lowest.
- The nationwide rate is 51.6%.
How it works: That's based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data tracking businesses that opened in the year ending March 2019 and remained open as of March 2024, the latest available data.
Go deeper: Where Americans are starting new businesses
