Credit card debt in the United States has been growing at a fast pace between 2021 and 2025. In the fourth 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 *** billion U.S. dollars in the last quarter of 2019 to *** 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 2025. That year, the penetration rate of credit cards in the United States was ** 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 2024, 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.

View quarterly updates and historical trends for US Credit Card Debt. from United States. Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Track economic data wi…

Generation X was the group of people with the highest average credit card balance in the United States in the 3rd quarter of 2024. That year, the average credit card debt of generation Z amounted to approximately ***** U.S. dollars. People in the silent generation had a credit card balance of roughly ***** 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 2025-11-19 about revolving, credit cards, loans, consumer, banks, depository institutions, and USA.

Debt Balance Credit Cards in the United States increased to 1.23 Trillion USD in the third quarter of 2025 from 1.21 Trillion USD in the second quarter of 2025. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for the United States Debt Balance Credit Cards.

Total credit card debt in the UK grew by over ****billion British pounds between March and April 2025, now reaching a similar level of debt as seen in early 2020. The annual growth rate of credit card debt stayed about the same in April 2025, reaching *** percent when compared to aApril 2024. The growth rate in 2024 has been decreasing until 2025 where it started to increase again, which may potentially be attributed to growing interest rates and the cost of living crisis.

Key information about United States Household Debt

• United States Household Debt reached 18,585.0 USD bn in Sep 2025, compared with the reported number of 18,388.0 USD bn in the previous quarter
• US Household Debt: USD mn data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 1999 to Sep 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 18,585.0 USD bn in Sep 2025 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 61.4 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Jun 2025
• Money Supply M2 in United States increased 22,298.1 USD bn YoY in Oct 2025
• United States Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 38.3 USD bn in Oct 2025
• The Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 0.1 Months of Import in Aug 2025
• United States Domestic Credit reached 31,813.3 USD bn in Mar 2025, representing an increased of 4.0 % YoY

As of the fourth quarter of 2024, Alaska and Hawaii were the states in the U.S. with the highest credit card debt. While the average credit card debt in Alaska amounted to ***** U.S. dollars, people from Mississippi only had on average ***** U.S. dollars of credit card debt.

This statistic presents the average credit card debt of Americans in 2017, by income. In that year, the credit card debt of Americans who earned more than *** thousand U.S. dollars amounted to ****** U.S. dollars.

Graph and download economic data for Large Bank Consumer Credit Card Balances: Total Balances (RCCCBBALTOT) from Q3 2012 to Q2 2025 about FR Y-14M, credit cards, consumer credit, large, balance, loans, consumer, banks, depository institutions, and USA.

Households Debt in the United States decreased to 68.30 percent of GDP in the first quarter of 2025 from 69.40 percent of GDP in the fourth quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - United States Households Debt To Gdp- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Introduction

Credit Card Statistics: A credit card is a widely used financial tool that allows consumers to make purchases or withdraw cash on credit, accruing debt to be repaid later. As of Q4 2024, Americans held approximately USD 1.21 trillion in credit card debt, marking a 4% increase from the previous year. The average credit card balance per consumer reached USD 6,730, up by 3.5% from 2023.

In the same period, the number of credit card accounts in the U.S. rose to about 617 million. Globally, Visa and Mastercard have approximately 1.3 billion and 1.1 billion credit cards in circulation, respectively. Credit cards accounted for 32% of all payment transactions in 2023, reflecting their significant role in consumer spending. However, 22% of credit card users make only minimum payments, indicating potential financial strain. Additionally, credit card delinquency rates rose to 3.6% in Q4 2024, highlighting challenges in debt repayment. These statistics underscore the importance of responsible credit card usage and financial management.

Credit cards also allow customers to build a debt balance that is related to the interest being charged. Let’s shed more light on “Credit Card Statistics†through this article.

Consumer Credit in Canada increased to 804999 CAD Million in September from 798319 CAD Million in August of 2025. This dataset provides - Canada Consumer Credit - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

Graph and download economic data for Delinquency Rate on Credit Card Loans, All Commercial Banks (DRCCLACBS) from Q1 1991 to Q3 2025 about credit cards, delinquencies, commercial, loans, banks, depository institutions, rate, and USA.

Monthly credit aggregates for the household sector, by category.

Consumer debt in the U.S. has kept rising, reaching new highs in mortgage, credit card, auto, and student loan balances. Two real‑world impacts: Homebuyers face steeper payments because mortgage balances and rates are rising, tightening affordability. And millions of student loan borrowers resumed payments today, triggering spikes in delinquency rates...

Graph and download economic data for Household Debt Service Payments as a Percent of Disposable Personal Income (TDSP) from Q1 1980 to Q2 2025 about disposable, payments, personal income, debt, percent, households, personal, income, services, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Commercial Bank Interest Rate on Credit Card Plans, All Accounts (TERMCBCCALLNS) from Nov 1994 to Aug 2025 about credit cards, consumer credit, loans, consumer, interest rate, banks, depository institutions, interest, rate, and USA.

The average consumer debt balance in the United States has peaked in 2024 at roughly ******* U.S. dollars. However, average consumer debt had decreased between 2010 and 2013, when it reached approximately ****** U.S. dollars. Here, consumer debt refers to student and car loans, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, and other types of debt.

Key information about European Union Household Debt

• European Union Household Debt reached 7,877.1 USD bn in Oct 2025, compared with the reported number of 7,998.9 USD bn in the previous month
• EU Household Debt: USD mn data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1999 to Oct 2025
• The data reached an all-time high of 7,998.9 USD bn in Sep 2025 and a record low of 2,500.5 USD bn in Oct 2000

CEIC converts monthly Household Debt into USD. European Central Bank provides Household Debt in EUR. 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 in monthly frequency. Household Debt includes Mortgages and Consumer Loans.


Further information about European Union Household Debt

• In the latest reports, European Union Household Debt accounted for 50.9 % of the country's Nominal GDP in Jun 2025
• Money Supply M2 in European Union increased 18,352.1 USD bn YoY in Oct 2025
• European Union Foreign Exchange Reserves was measured at 322.0 USD bn in Oct 2025
• The Foreign Exchange Reserves equaled 1.2 Months of Import in Sep 2025
• European Union Domestic Credit reached 24,974.9 USD bn in Feb 2025, representing an increased of 1.6 % YoY