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.

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 average consumer debt balance in the United States has peaked in 2023 at roughly 104,200 U.S. dollars. However, average consumer debt had decreased between 2010 and 2013, when it reached approximately 85,500 U.S. dollars. Here, consumer debt refers to student and car loans, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, and other types of debt.

The generation X was the group of people with the highest average credit card balance in the United States in 2023. That year, the average credit card debt of the generation Z amounted to approximately 3,260 U.S. dollars. People in the silent generation had a credit card balance of roughly 3,410 U.S. dollars.

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.

The average amount of non-mortgage debt held by consumers in the United States has been falling steadily during the past years, amounting to 21,800 U.S. dollars in 2023. While respondents had 38,000 U.S. dollars of debt in 2018, that volume decreased to 29,803 U.S. dollars in 2019, which constituted the largest year-over-year decrease.

What age groups are more indebted in the U.S.? The age group with the highest level of consumer debt in the U.S. was belonging to the Generation X with approximately 154,700 U.S. dollars of debt in 2022. The next generations with high consumer debt levels were baby boomers and millennials, whose debt levels were similar. In comparison, credit card debt is more equally distributed across all ages. There is an exception among people under 35 years old, who are significantly less burdened with credit card debt. However, most consumers expect to get rid of their debt in the short term.

College expenses as a source of debt Educational expenses were not among the leading sources of debt among consumers in the U.S. in 2022. Instead, they made up about ten percent of the total. However, around 39 percent of undergraduates from lower-income families had student loans, while over a fifth of undergraduates from higher-income families had student loans. Independently of how they cover these expenses, the confidence of students and parents about being able to pay these college costs was high in most cases.

The tables and interactive maps below allow users to explore the ratio of debt to income by state, metropolitan statistical area, and county for each year since 1999. Household debt is calculated from Federal Reserve Bank of New York (FRBNY) Consumer Credit Panel/Equifax Data, and household income is reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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.

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 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 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

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 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

The total average debt of Baby Boomers in the United States amounted to nearly 94,880 U.S. dollars in 2023. Debt balances, however, varied greatly according to the generation. The Generation X held the highest debt on average (157,560 U.S. dollars), while generation Z held the lowest average debt (nearly 29,820 U.S. dollars).

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.

Households Debt in Canada increased to 100.39 percent of GDP in the fourth quarter of 2024 from 100.32 percent of GDP in the third quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - Canada Households Debt To Gdp- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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.

Key information about Ireland Household Debt: % of GDP

• Ireland household debt accounted for 31.6 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Sep 2024, compared with the ratio of 32.1 % in the previous quarter.
• Ireland household debt to GDP ratio is updated quarterly, available from Mar 2002 to Sep 2024.
• The data reached an all-time high of 123.2 % in Dec 2009 and a record low of 27.6 % in Mar 2023.

CEIC calculates quarterly Household Debt as % of Nominal GDP from quarterly Household Debt and quarterly Nominal GDP. The Central Bank of Ireland provides Household Debt in EUR. Central Statistics Office provides Nominal GDP in EUR. Federal Reserve Board average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions. Household Debt includes NPISH.


Related information about Ireland Household Debt: % of GDP

• In the latest reports, Ireland Household Debt reached 182.0 USD bn in Sep 2024.
• Money Supply M2 in Ireland increased 3.7 % YoY in Jan 2025.
• Ireland Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 5.1 USD bn in Dec 2024.
• The Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 0.4 Months of Import in Dec 2024.
• Ireland Domestic Credit reached 319.1 USD bn in Dec 2024, representing an increased of 2.5 % YoY.
• The country's Non Performing Loans Ratio stood at 1.2 % in Sep 2024, compared with the ratio of 1.2 % in the previous quarter.

In 2023, 968 billion U.S. dollars worth of student loans were in forebearance in the United States. This is due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, where the government paused repayment of student loans and froze the accumulation of interest. This is compared to 112 billion U.S. dollars worth of student loans that were in default. As of the fourth quarter of 2022, outstanding student loan debt in the U.S. was valued at approximately 1.76 trillion U.S. dollars.

Debt service ratios, interest and obligated principal payments on debt, and related statistics for households, Canada.