Credit card debt in the United States has been growing at a fast pace between 2021 and 2024. In the third quarter of 2024, the overall amount of credit card debt reached its highest value throughout the timeline considered here. COVID-19 had a big impact on the indebtedness of Americans, as credit card debt decreased from 927 billion U.S. dollars in the last quarter of 2019 to 770 billion U.S. dollars in the first quarter of 2021. What portion of Americans use credit cards? A substantial portion of Americans had at least one credit card in 2024. That year, the penetration rate of credit cards in the United States was 67 percent. This number increased by nearly seven percentage points since 2014. The primary factors behind the high utilization of credit cards in the United States are a prevalent culture of convenience, a wide range of reward schemes, and consumer preferences for postponed payments. Which companies dominate the credit card issuing market? In 2023, the leading credit card issuers in the U.S. by volume were JPMorgan Chase & Co. and American Express. Both firms recorded transactions worth over one trillion U.S. dollars that year. Citi and Capital One were the next banks in that ranking, with the transactions made with their credit cards amounting to over half a trillion U.S. dollars that year. Those industry giants, along with other prominent brand names in the industry such as Bank of America, Synchrony Financial, Wells Fargo, and others, dominate the credit card market. Due to their extensive customer base, appealing rewards, and competitive offerings, they have gained a significant market share, making them the preferred choice for consumers.

Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway were among the European countries with most indebted households in 2023 and 2024. The debt of Dutch households amounted to 200 percent their disposable income in , as they had a ratio of over 180 percent in the second quarter of 2024. Meanwhile, Norwegian households' debt represented 233 percent of their income. However, households in most countries were less indebted, with that ratio amounting to 97 percent in the Euro area. Less indebtedness in Western and Northern Europe There were several European countries where household's debts outweighed their disposable income. Most of those countries were North or West European. However, the indebtedness ratio in Denmark has been decreasing during the past decade. As the debt of Danish households represented nearly 273 percent in the last quarter of 2014, which has fallen very significantly by 2024. Other countries with indebted households have been following similar trends. The households' debt-to-income ratio in the Netherlands has also fallen from over 275 percent in 2013 to 200 percent in 2024. Debt per adult in Europe In Europe, the value of debt per adult varies considerably from an average of around 10,000 U.S. dollars in Europe to a much higher level in certain countries such as Switzerland. Debts can be formed in a number of ways. The most common forms of debt include credit cards, medical debt, student loans, overdrafts, mortgages, automobile financing and personal loans.

Key information about United States Household Debt

• United States Household Debt reached 18,036.0 USD bn in Dec 2024, compared with the reported number of 17,943.0 USD bn in the previous quarter
• US Household Debt: USD mn data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1999 to Dec 2024
• The data reached an all-time high of 18,036.0 USD bn in Dec 2024 and a record low of 4,540.0 USD bn in Mar 1999

Federal Reserve Board of New York provides quarterly Household Debt in USD. Household Debt includes Mortgages, Home Equity Revolving, Auto Loans, Bankcards, Student Loans and Others.


Further information about United States Household Debt

• In the latest reports, United States Household Debt accounted for 61.7 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Dec 2024
• Money Supply M2 in United States increased 21,533.8 USD bn YoY in Dec 2024
• United States Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 34.9 USD bn in Dec 2024
• The Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 0.1 Months of Import in Dec 2024
• United States Domestic Credit reached 30,648.3 USD bn in Mar 2024, representing an drop of 0.3 % YoY

The value of the debt per adult in Europe in 2022 varied a lot from country to country. While Swiss adults had on average over 151,600 U.S. dollars of debt in 2022, adults from Azerbaijan had a debt of 540 dollars. Meanwhile, the average volume of debt in Europe that year was almost 25,000 U.S. dollars per adult. The household debt to disposable income ratio in Europe follows a similarly varied distribution. As varied as the volume of debts in Europe are, the most common forms of debt are still very similar and they tend to include: credit cards, medical debt, student loans, overdrafts, mortgages, automobile financing and personal loans.

Key information about Norway Household Debt

• Norway Household Debt reached 417.6 USD bn in Dec 2024, compared with the reported number of 443.6 USD bn in the previous quarter
• Norway Household Debt: USD mn data is updated quarterly, available from Dec 1995 to Dec 2024
• The data reached an all-time high of 488.2 USD bn in Mar 2022 and a record low of 85.5 USD bn in Jun 1997

CEIC converts quarterly Household Debt into USD. Statistics Norway provides Household Debt in local currency. The Federal Reserve Board period end market exchange rate is used for currency conversions.


Further information about Norway Household Debt

• In the latest reports, Norway Household Debt accounted for 91.3 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Dec 2024
• Money Supply M2 in Norway increased 288.6 USD bn YoY in Jan 2025
• Norway Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 79.0 USD bn in Feb 2025
• The Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 10.5 Months of Import in Jan 2025
• Norway Domestic Credit reached 667.0 USD bn in Jan 2025, representing an increased of 3.7 % YoY

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Loans: Credit Cards and Other Revolving Plans, All Commercial Banks (CCLACBW027SBOG) from 2000-06-28 to 2025-03-12 about revolving, credit cards, loans, consumer, banks, depository institutions, and USA.

Key information about China Household Debt

• China Household Debt reached 11,498.4 USD bn in Jan 2025, compared with the reported number of 11,347.6 USD bn in the previous month
• China Household Debt: USD mn data is updated monthly, available from Jan 2007 to Jan 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 11,691.0 USD bn in Sep 2024 and a record low of 517.7 USD bn in Jan 2007

CEIC converts monthly Household Debt into USD. The People's Bank of China provides Household Debt in local currency. The Federal Reserve Board period end market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Loans are used due to the lack of Flow of Funds statistics.


Further information about China Household Debt

• In the latest reports, China Household Debt accounted for 63.3 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Mar 2023
• Money Supply M2 in China increased 44,045.8 USD bn YoY in Sep 2024
• China Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 3,209.0 USD bn in Jan 2025
• The Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 13.9 Months of Import in Dec 2024
• China Domestic Credit reached 49,338.1 USD bn in Jan 2025, representing an increased of 7.9 % YoY

Graph and download economic data for Household Debt Service Payments as a Percent of Disposable Personal Income (TDSP) from Q1 1980 to Q4 2024 about disposable, payments, debt, personal income, percent, personal, households, services, income, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Delinquency Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks (DRCCLACBS) from Q1 1991 to Q4 2024 about credit cards, delinquencies, commercial, loans, banks, depository institutions, rate, and USA.

Key information about Canada Household Debt

• Canada Household Debt reached 2,110.9 USD bn in Dec 2024, compared with the reported number of 2,161.8 USD bn in the previous month
• Canada Household Debt: USD mn data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1969 to Dec 2024
• The data reached an all-time high of 2,225.1 USD bn in Sep 2024 and a record low of 22.2 USD bn in Jan 1969

CEIC converts monthly Household Debt into USD. Statistics Canada provides Household Debt in local currency. The Federal Reserve Board period end market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Loans are used due to the lack of Flow of Funds statistics. Household Debt prior to January 1990 is sourced from the Bank of Canada.


Further information about Canada Household Debt

• In the latest reports, Canada Household Debt accounted for 99.2 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Sep 2024
• Money Supply M2 in Canada increased 1,873.3 USD bn YoY in Nov 2024
• Canada Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 90.2 USD bn in Jan 2025
• The Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 2.0 Months of Import in Dec 2024
• Canada Domestic Credit reached 4,647.3 USD bn in Nov 2024, representing an increased of 3.9 % YoY

Key information about Israel Household Debt

• Israel Household Debt reached 229.1 USD bn in Nov 2024, compared with the reported number of 223.5 USD bn in the previous month
• Israel Household Debt: USD mn data is updated monthly, available from Sep 1992 to Nov 2024
• The data reached an all-time high of 229.1 USD bn in Nov 2024 and a record low of 18.5 USD bn in Nov 1992

CEIC converts monthly Household Debt into USD. The Bank of Israel provides Household Debt in local currency. The Bank of Israel period end market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Loans are used due to the lack of Flow of Funds statistics.


Further information about Israel Household Debt

• In the latest reports, Israel Household Debt accounted for 42.7 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Sep 2024
• Money Supply M2 in Israel increased 378.1 USD bn YoY in Oct 2024
• Israel Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 212.7 USD bn in Nov 2024
• The Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 22.0 Months of Import in Dec 2024
• Israel Domestic Credit reached 742.6 USD bn in Apr 2023, representing an increased of 12.9 % YoY

Key information about South Africa Household Debt: % of GDP

• South Africa household debt accounted for 40.7 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Sep 2024, compared with the ratio of 40.6 % in the previous quarter.
• South Africa household debt to GDP ratio is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1969 to Sep 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 49.6 % in Sep 2007 and a record low of 25.0 % in Sep 1980.

CEIC calculates quarterly Household Debt as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Household Debt and quarterly Nominal GDP. Household Debt is calculated from Household Disposable Income and ratio of Household Debt to Household Disposable Income. South African Reserve Bank provides Household Debt in local currency. Statistics South Africa provides Nominal GDP in local currency.


Related information about South Africa Household Debt: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, South Africa Household Debt reached 171.2 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• Money Supply M2 in South Africa increased 7.1 % YoY in Oct 2024.
• South Africa Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 45.0 USD bn in Oct 2024.
• The Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 4.8 Months of Import in Oct 2024.
• South Africa Domestic Credit reached 319.5 USD bn in Oct 2024, representing an increased of 6.8 % YoY.
• The country's Non Performing Loans Ratio stood at 5.3 % in Oct 2024, compared with the ratio of 5.2 % in the previous month.

Delinquency rates for credit cards picked up in 2024 in the United States, leading to the highest rates observed since 2008. This is according to a collection of one of the United States' federal banks across all commercial banks. The high delinquency rates were joined by the highest U.S. credit card charge-off rates since the Financial Crisis of 2008. Delinquency rates, or the share of credit card loans overdue a payment for more than 60 days, can sometimes lead into charge-off, or a writing off of the loan, after about six to 12 months. These figures on the share of credit card balances that are overdue developed significantly between 2021 and 2024: Delinquencies were at their lowest point in 2021 but increased to one of their highest points by 2024. This is reflected in the growing credit card debt in the United States, which reached an all-time high in 2023.

Graph and download economic data for Commercial Bank Interest Rate on Credit Card Plans, Accounts Assessed Interest (TERMCBCCINTNS) from Nov 1994 to Nov 2024 about consumer credit, credit cards, loans, consumer, interest rate, banks, interest, depository institutions, rate, and USA.

In the first quarter of 2024, household debt in the United States amounted to over 71 percent of its GDP. It can be generally observed that U.S. households are more indebted by the end of the year than in any other quarter. The debt of households peaked in the last quarter of 2020, reaching the highest value since 2013. Debt to GDP ratio As it can be observed here, the household debt to GDP ratio decreased overall in the recent years. The steady growth of the gross domestic product in the United States could be a factor explaining this tendency. If the volume of debt grows at a slower pace than the GDP, the debt to GDP ratio would decrease. In addition to that, the overall value of mortgage debt in the U.S., which is the most significant component of the household debt, decreased from 2012 to the third quarter of 2014, but it has rebounded since then. Public debt in the U.S. Public debt in the United States, which is the amount of money borrowed by the government to finance budget deficits, has been increasing almost every single year. Not only that, but according to that forecast it is also expected to keep increasing during the coming years. The major holders of American government debt, as of December 2022, were Federal Reserve and government accounts and foreign and international holders. The ratio of national debt to GDP of the United States was higher than that of other major economies, but lower than that of Japan. Some of the lowest debt to GDP ratios were observed in Hong Kong SAR, Kuwait, and Turkmenistan.

Graph and download economic data for Charge-Off Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks (CORCCACBN) from Q1 1985 to Q4 2024 about charge-offs, credit cards, commercial, loans, banks, depository institutions, rate, and USA.

Key information about France Household Debt: % of GDP

• France household debt accounted for 74.2 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Dec 2023, compared with the ratio of 77.8 % in the previous year.
• France household debt to GDP ratio is updated yearly, available from Dec 1977 to Dec 2023.
• The data reached an all-time high of 81.0 % in Dec 2020 and a record low of 19.6 % in Dec 1977.

CEIC calculates annual Household Debt as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Household Debt and annual Nominal GDP. The Banque de France provides Household Debt in EUR. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies provides Nominal GDP in EUR. Household Debt includes Sole Proprietorship.


Related information about France Household Debt: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, France Household Debt reached 2,335.5 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• Money Supply M2 in France increased 0.8 % YoY in Nov 2024.
• France Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 29.5 USD bn in Dec 2024.
• The Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 0.5 Months of Import in Nov 2024.
• France Domestic Credit reached 5,416.5 USD bn in Oct 2024, representing an increased of 1.4 % YoY.
• The country's Non Performing Loans Ratio stood at 2.4 % in Dec 2021, compared with the ratio of 2.7 % in the previous year.

Graph and download economic data for Charge-Off Rate on Credit Card Loans, Banks Ranked 1st to 100th Largest in Size by Assets (CORCCT100S) from Q1 1985 to Q4 2024 about charge-offs, credit cards, assets, loans, banks, depository institutions, rate, and USA.

In 2023, the gross federal debt in the United States amounted to around 93,500 U.S. dollars per capita. This is a moderate increase from the previous year, when the per capita national debt amounted to about 92,528 U.S. dollars. The total debt accrued by the U.S. annually can be accessed here. Federal debt of the United States The level of national debt held by the United States government has risen sharply in the years following the Great Recession. Federal debt is the amount of debt the federal government owes to creditors who hold assets in the form of debt securities. As with individuals and consumers, there is a common consensus among economists that holding debt is not necessarily problematic for government so long as the public debt is held at a sustainable level. Although there is no agreed upon ratio of debt to gross domestic product, the increasing debt held by the Federal Reserve has become a major part of the political discourse in the United States. Politics and the national debt In recent years, debate over the debt ceiling has been of concern to domestic politicians, the owners of federal debt, and global economy as a whole. The debt ceiling is a legislated maximum amount that national debt can reach intended to impose a degree of fiscal prudence on incumbent governments. However, as national debt has grown the debt ceiling has been reached, thus forcing legislative action by Congress. In both 2011 and 2013, new legislation was passed by Congress allowing the debt ceiling to be raised. The Budget Control Act of 2011 and the No Budget, No Pay Act of 2013 successively allowed the government to avoid defaulting on national debt and therefore avert a potential economic crisis.

This dataset provides values for INTEREST RATE reported in several countries. The data includes current values, previous releases, historical highs and record lows, release frequency, reported unit and currency.