Outlast: State establishment survival rates from 2000 to 2026

The reality television show, Survivor, which premiered in 2000, is currently airing its 51st season. It features contestants competing in challenges and voting each other out until one becomes the “sole survivor.” Private sector establishments also compete, though they don't vote each other out, and luckily more than just one survives. But how many private sector establishments that “premiered,” or were born, in 2000 are “survivors,” still doing business in 2026? Nationwide, 15.7 percent of establishments born in 2000 survived until 2026.

Of the 50 states, 8 had survival rates over 20.0 percent from 2000 to 2026. In those states, at least one-fifth of establishments born in 2000 survived until 2026, while the remainder closed permanently at some point during that period.

The Dakotas had the highest survival rates for establishments born in 2000. South Dakota had a survival rate of 24.7 percent, while North Dakota's rate was 23.0 percent. Other states with survival rates greater than 20.0 percent included Pennsylvania, Indiana, Wisconsin, Montana, Nebraska, and Hawaii.

Ten states and the District of Columbia had establishment survival rates below 15.0 percent during the 2000-to-2026 period, including Washington (10.3 percent) and California (11.6 percent). 

These data are from the Business Employment Dynamics program. To learn more about establishment survival data or to access more data, see Establishment Age and Survival Data. Establishment survival data are based on measures of over-the-year employment change from March of each year. An establishment is defined as an economic unit that produces goods or services, usually at a single physical location, and engages in one or predominantly one activity. A firm is a legal business, either corporate or otherwise, and may consist of several establishments.