GITNUXREPORT 2025

Average American Financial Statistics

Most Americans face debt, low savings, and inadequate retirement planning.

Jannik Lindner

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

The average American household has approximately $97,000 in total debt

Statistic 2

The average credit card debt per U.S. household with credit card debt is approximately $8,300

Statistic 3

The typical student loan debt in the U.S. is around $37,000

Statistic 4

Approximately 65% of Americans have a credit card

Statistic 5

The average annual interest paid on credit card debt is around $600

Statistic 6

An estimated 78 million Americans are living with debt that is 90 days overdue

Statistic 7

The average American mortgage debt is approximately $202,000

Statistic 8

The average American has about 3 credit cards

Statistic 9

The median debt per American household with debt is approximately $106,000

Statistic 10

Only 48% of Americans have completed a financial literacy course

Statistic 11

About 83% of Americans support increased financial education in schools

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The median savings account balance for American households is around $5,300

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Only about 41% of Americans have enough savings to cover a $1,000 emergency expense

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Americans hold roughly 20% of their wealth in real estate

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About 63% of Americans are worried about their financial security

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Roughly 54% of Americans have less than $5,000 in savings

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Only 24% of Americans have a dedicated financial plan or budget

Statistic 18

The national savings rate in the U.S. was approximately 2.4% in 2023

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56% of Americans lack investment accounts

Statistic 20

Nearly 60% of Americans report that they are not saving for a major purchase, such as a house or car, within the next year

Statistic 21

The median household net worth in the U.S. is about $121,700

Statistic 22

The average American spends about $50 annually on financial advisory services

Statistic 23

Nearly 70% of Americans have less than $10,000 in savings

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The median amount held in checking accounts by Americans is approximately $3,000

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The average American credit score is around 700

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Only about 15% of Americans actively invest in stocks

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Only 27% of Americans have a will or estate plan

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Approximately 61% of Americans have experienced identity theft

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About 50% of Americans have less than $400 in emergency savings

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Only 14% of Americans have a long-term care insurance policy

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Approximately 55% of Americans do not have a budget or spending plan

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Only about 26% of Americans save for college

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Nearly 46 million Americans are uninsured or underinsured for health insurance

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The average American spends about $1,200 per month on housing costs

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About 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck

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The median household income in the U.S. is approximately $68,700

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The average annual household expenditure in the U.S. is approximately $67,000

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The average U.S. household spends about 18% of its income on transportation

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The average American spends about $239 annually on lottery tickets

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The median age at which Americans buy their first home is 33 years old

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The average American spends roughly 17 minutes per day on financial activities

Statistic 42

The average American spends about $30 monthly on streaming services, totaling around $360 annually

Statistic 43

The average American spends about $1,000 annually on uninsured medical expenses

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The average American spends around $2,200 annually on private health insurance premiums

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Roughly 82% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck at least occasionally

Statistic 46

The average American spends nearly $1,000 annually on gambling

Statistic 47

The typical American spends about 10 hours per week on leisure and entertainment

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The average American spends about $650 annually on clothing and footwear

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The average American pays about $12,000 per year in taxes, including federal, state, and local

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The average American age 65 and older has about $88,000 in retirement savings

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The average 401(k) balance for American workers is about $106,000

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Nearly 1 in 4 Americans has no retirement savings at all

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About 40% of Americans do not have any retirement savings

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Only about 34% of Americans contribute enough to their retirement accounts to meet the recommended 15% of income

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The average retirement age in the U.S. is approximately 62 years old

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About 72% of Americans plan to work past age 65 due to financial reasons

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Nearly 60% of Americans report they are behind on saving for retirement

Statistic 58

About 44% of Americans report that they are not saving anything for retirement

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Key Highlights

  • The average American household has approximately $97,000 in total debt
  • The median savings account balance for American households is around $5,300
  • The average American spends about $1,200 per month on housing costs
  • About 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck
  • The average credit card debt per U.S. household with credit card debt is approximately $8,300
  • Only about 41% of Americans have enough savings to cover a $1,000 emergency expense
  • The average American age 65 and older has about $88,000 in retirement savings
  • The median household income in the U.S. is approximately $68,700
  • Americans hold roughly 20% of their wealth in real estate
  • The typical student loan debt in the U.S. is around $37,000
  • About 63% of Americans are worried about their financial security
  • The average annual household expenditure in the U.S. is approximately $67,000
  • Roughly 54% of Americans have less than $5,000 in savings

Did you know that despite earning an average household income of nearly $69,000, most Americans are drowning in debt, living paycheck to paycheck, and unprepared for retirement?

Debts and Credit Usage

  • The average American household has approximately $97,000 in total debt
  • The average credit card debt per U.S. household with credit card debt is approximately $8,300
  • The typical student loan debt in the U.S. is around $37,000
  • Approximately 65% of Americans have a credit card
  • The average annual interest paid on credit card debt is around $600
  • An estimated 78 million Americans are living with debt that is 90 days overdue
  • The average American mortgage debt is approximately $202,000
  • The average American has about 3 credit cards
  • The median debt per American household with debt is approximately $106,000

Debts and Credit Usage Interpretation

With a median debt of around $106,000, the average American household seems to be jogging a financial tightrope—balanced precariously with credits, loans, and mounting interest, all while Uncle Sam watches anxiously from the sidelines.

Financial Literacy and Preparedness

  • Only 48% of Americans have completed a financial literacy course
  • About 83% of Americans support increased financial education in schools

Financial Literacy and Preparedness Interpretation

Despite a striking 83% of Americans backing expanded financial education in schools, only about half have actually taken a financial literacy course, highlighting a significant gap between desire and action in mastering personal finance.

Household Finances and Savings

  • The median savings account balance for American households is around $5,300
  • Only about 41% of Americans have enough savings to cover a $1,000 emergency expense
  • Americans hold roughly 20% of their wealth in real estate
  • About 63% of Americans are worried about their financial security
  • Roughly 54% of Americans have less than $5,000 in savings
  • Only 24% of Americans have a dedicated financial plan or budget
  • The national savings rate in the U.S. was approximately 2.4% in 2023
  • 56% of Americans lack investment accounts
  • Nearly 60% of Americans report that they are not saving for a major purchase, such as a house or car, within the next year
  • The median household net worth in the U.S. is about $121,700
  • The average American spends about $50 annually on financial advisory services
  • Nearly 70% of Americans have less than $10,000 in savings
  • The median amount held in checking accounts by Americans is approximately $3,000
  • The average American credit score is around 700
  • Only about 15% of Americans actively invest in stocks
  • Only 27% of Americans have a will or estate plan
  • Approximately 61% of Americans have experienced identity theft
  • About 50% of Americans have less than $400 in emergency savings
  • Only 14% of Americans have a long-term care insurance policy
  • Approximately 55% of Americans do not have a budget or spending plan
  • Only about 26% of Americans save for college
  • Nearly 46 million Americans are uninsured or underinsured for health insurance

Household Finances and Savings Interpretation

Despite holding an average net worth of over $121,700, nearly two-thirds of Americans worry about financial security and have less than $5,000 in savings, illustrating a nation with substantial wealth gaps, limited planning, and a surprising reluctance to invest or prepare for the future.

Income and Expenditure Patterns

  • The average American spends about $1,200 per month on housing costs
  • About 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck
  • The median household income in the U.S. is approximately $68,700
  • The average annual household expenditure in the U.S. is approximately $67,000
  • The average U.S. household spends about 18% of its income on transportation
  • The average American spends about $239 annually on lottery tickets
  • The median age at which Americans buy their first home is 33 years old
  • The average American spends roughly 17 minutes per day on financial activities
  • The average American spends about $30 monthly on streaming services, totaling around $360 annually
  • The average American spends about $1,000 annually on uninsured medical expenses
  • The average American spends around $2,200 annually on private health insurance premiums
  • Roughly 82% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck at least occasionally
  • The average American spends nearly $1,000 annually on gambling
  • The typical American spends about 10 hours per week on leisure and entertainment
  • The average American spends about $650 annually on clothing and footwear
  • The average American pays about $12,000 per year in taxes, including federal, state, and local

Income and Expenditure Patterns Interpretation

Despite earning a median household income of roughly $68,700 and spending nearly as much annually on essentials like housing, transportation, and insurance, over three-quarters of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and spend an average of 10 hours a week on leisure, illustrating a nation where financial juggling is the new national pastime.

Retirement Planning and Wealth

  • The average American age 65 and older has about $88,000 in retirement savings
  • The average 401(k) balance for American workers is about $106,000
  • Nearly 1 in 4 Americans has no retirement savings at all
  • About 40% of Americans do not have any retirement savings
  • Only about 34% of Americans contribute enough to their retirement accounts to meet the recommended 15% of income
  • The average retirement age in the U.S. is approximately 62 years old
  • About 72% of Americans plan to work past age 65 due to financial reasons
  • Nearly 60% of Americans report they are behind on saving for retirement
  • About 44% of Americans report that they are not saving anything for retirement

Retirement Planning and Wealth Interpretation

Despite the daunting stats revealing that nearly half of Americans are empty-handed or under-contributing for retirement, the average savings scarcely stretch to ensure a comfortable future, highlighting a looming financial cliff for many who plan to work longer but haven't started saving early enough.

Sources & References