GITNUXREPORT 2025

Credit Card Ownership Statistics

Nearly half of U.S. adults own credit cards, with extensive debt and usage.

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

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43% of credit card accounts in the U.S. are considered high-risk accounts.

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Approximately 25% of credit card users in the U.S. are under 30 years old.

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The average age of a first-time credit cardholder in the U.S. is approximately 20 years old.

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The percentage of U.S. adults with no credit card debt who have a credit score above 700 is approximately 45%.

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The share of Americans relying solely on cash has decreased to about 22% in 2023.

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Approximately 55% of U.S. consumers consider rewards programs as a primary factor when choosing a credit card.

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The percentage of U.S. households that have at least one credit card declined in 2023 is roughly 8%.

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As of 2023, approximately 48% of adults in the United States own at least one credit card.

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The average number of credit cards held per U.S. household is 3.2.

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Nearly 70% of U.S. adults have at least one credit card.

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About 39% of U.S. adults carry a balance on their credit cards each month.

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Approximately 33% of U.S. consumers have at least one store credit card.

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In 2023, new credit card accounts opened in the U.S. totaled around 60 million.

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Millennials hold the highest proportion of credit cards among all age groups in the U.S., at about 72%.

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The percentage of U.S. adults who have a credit card but do not use it regularly is approximately 12%.

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Women are slightly more likely than men to own a credit card, with ownership rates of 49% compared to 47%

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About 15% of U.S. households do not own any credit cards.

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The utilization rate of credit cards (credit used divided by credit limit) averages around 29% for U.S. consumers.

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Credit card penetration is highest among households with an annual income over $75,000.

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About 90% of small businesses in the U.S. accept credit cards as a form of payment.

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The number of active credit card accounts in the U.S. exceeds 200 million.

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Nearly 22% of U.S. consumers use credit cards for online shopping exclusively.

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The average credit limit for new credit card accounts in the U.S. is approximately $6,800.

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The percentage of U.S. adults who carry at least one store credit card is around 33%.

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Approximately 40% of college students in the U.S. own a credit card.

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The total outstanding credit card debt in the U.S. reached approximately $930 billion in 2023.

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The median credit card debt per household in the U.S. is about $5,300.

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About 40% of credit card holders carry a balance of more than $5,000.

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Credit card debt accounted for roughly 11% of total household debt in the U.S. in 2023.

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The number of credit card fraud cases in the U.S. increased by approximately 15% from 2022 to 2023.

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The average credit card interest rate in the U.S. was around 19% in 2023.

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Subsidized introductory 0% interest offers on credit cards are available to about 60% of new applicants in 2023.

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The average annual percentage rate (APR) for credit cards in the U.S. is about 20%, depending on creditworthiness.

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Key Highlights

  • As of 2023, approximately 48% of adults in the United States own at least one credit card.
  • The average number of credit cards held per U.S. household is 3.2.
  • Nearly 70% of U.S. adults have at least one credit card.
  • The total outstanding credit card debt in the U.S. reached approximately $930 billion in 2023.
  • The median credit card debt per household in the U.S. is about $5,300.
  • About 39% of U.S. adults carry a balance on their credit cards each month.
  • 43% of credit card accounts in the U.S. are considered high-risk accounts.
  • The average credit card interest rate in the U.S. was around 19% in 2023.
  • Approximately 33% of U.S. consumers have at least one store credit card.
  • In 2023, new credit card accounts opened in the U.S. totaled around 60 million.
  • Millennials hold the highest proportion of credit cards among all age groups in the U.S., at about 72%.
  • Approximately 25% of credit card users in the U.S. are under 30 years old.
  • The percentage of U.S. adults who have a credit card but do not use it regularly is approximately 12%.

With nearly half of American adults holding at least one credit card and total debt soaring past $930 billion in 2023, the landscape of credit card ownership reveals a complex picture of financial habits and risks shaping U.S. consumers today.

Consumer Credit Behavior and Demographics

  • 43% of credit card accounts in the U.S. are considered high-risk accounts.
  • Approximately 25% of credit card users in the U.S. are under 30 years old.
  • The average age of a first-time credit cardholder in the U.S. is approximately 20 years old.
  • The percentage of U.S. adults with no credit card debt who have a credit score above 700 is approximately 45%.
  • The share of Americans relying solely on cash has decreased to about 22% in 2023.
  • Approximately 55% of U.S. consumers consider rewards programs as a primary factor when choosing a credit card.
  • The percentage of U.S. households that have at least one credit card declined in 2023 is roughly 8%.

Consumer Credit Behavior and Demographics Interpretation

With nearly half of credit accounts flagged as high-risk and young Americans flocking to their first cards around age 20, it's clear that while credit card use is expanding among millennials and Gen Z—who prize rewards—many adults maintain stellar credit scores without debt, as cash reliance wanes and a small but impactful decline in household cardownership signals cautious optimism amid a landscape of persistent financial complexities.

Credit Card Usage and Penetration

  • As of 2023, approximately 48% of adults in the United States own at least one credit card.
  • The average number of credit cards held per U.S. household is 3.2.
  • Nearly 70% of U.S. adults have at least one credit card.
  • About 39% of U.S. adults carry a balance on their credit cards each month.
  • Approximately 33% of U.S. consumers have at least one store credit card.
  • In 2023, new credit card accounts opened in the U.S. totaled around 60 million.
  • Millennials hold the highest proportion of credit cards among all age groups in the U.S., at about 72%.
  • The percentage of U.S. adults who have a credit card but do not use it regularly is approximately 12%.
  • Women are slightly more likely than men to own a credit card, with ownership rates of 49% compared to 47%
  • About 15% of U.S. households do not own any credit cards.
  • The utilization rate of credit cards (credit used divided by credit limit) averages around 29% for U.S. consumers.
  • Credit card penetration is highest among households with an annual income over $75,000.
  • About 90% of small businesses in the U.S. accept credit cards as a form of payment.
  • The number of active credit card accounts in the U.S. exceeds 200 million.
  • Nearly 22% of U.S. consumers use credit cards for online shopping exclusively.
  • The average credit limit for new credit card accounts in the U.S. is approximately $6,800.
  • The percentage of U.S. adults who carry at least one store credit card is around 33%.
  • Approximately 40% of college students in the U.S. own a credit card.

Credit Card Usage and Penetration Interpretation

With nearly half of all U.S. adults holding at least one credit card—most averaging over three per household—and Millennials leading the charge at 72%, it’s clear that in America, credit cards are less of a luxury and more of an essential, turning every swipe into a potential balancing act between convenience and caution.

Financial Burden and Debt Statistics

  • The total outstanding credit card debt in the U.S. reached approximately $930 billion in 2023.
  • The median credit card debt per household in the U.S. is about $5,300.
  • About 40% of credit card holders carry a balance of more than $5,000.
  • Credit card debt accounted for roughly 11% of total household debt in the U.S. in 2023.

Financial Burden and Debt Statistics Interpretation

With nearly a trillion dollars in credit card debt, the U.S. is essentially financing a nation-wide shopping spree, where the median household’s $5,300 bill underscores that for many, that splurge is more "buy now, worry later" than "budget wisely."

Fraud and Protective Measures

  • The number of credit card fraud cases in the U.S. increased by approximately 15% from 2022 to 2023.

Fraud and Protective Measures Interpretation

As credit card ownership continues to rise, so does the sophistication of fraudsters, turning a growing wallet into a bigger target—highlighting the urgent need for heightened security measures.

Interest Rates and Credit Terms

  • The average credit card interest rate in the U.S. was around 19% in 2023.
  • Subsidized introductory 0% interest offers on credit cards are available to about 60% of new applicants in 2023.
  • The average annual percentage rate (APR) for credit cards in the U.S. is about 20%, depending on creditworthiness.

Interest Rates and Credit Terms Interpretation

While savvy consumers may enjoy introductory 0% offers, the persistent average APR of around 20% in 2023 underscores that, for most, carrying a balance can turn credit cards into a high-stakes game of financial roulette.