Key Takeaways
- Average U.S. credit card debt reached $6,501 per borrower in Q3 2023
- 45% of Americans carry a credit card balance month-to-month in 2023
- Total U.S. credit card debt hit $1.13 trillion in Q3 2023
- 66% of U.S. adults fail basic financial literacy quiz in 2023
- Only 17% of millennials demonstrate high financial literacy in 2022
- 65% of Americans can't pass a basic three-question financial quiz
- Average American household income was $74,580 in 2022
- Top 1% of earners capture 20% of total U.S. income in 2022
- Median household income for Black families $52,860 vs $81,060 white in 2022
- 54% of Americans 30+ have 401(k) or IRA
- Average 401(k) balance $134,129 for ages 55-64 in 2023
- 49% of Americans fear outliving savings in retirement
- In 2023, 58% of Americans reported living paycheck to paycheck, an increase from 50% in 2021
- The median transaction account balance for U.S. families was $8,000 in 2022, down slightly from pre-pandemic levels
- Only 44% of Americans could cover a $1,000 emergency expense from savings in 2023
Millions of Americans juggle heavy credit and other debts while weak financial literacy leaves little savings buffer.
Debt Statistics
Debt Statistics Interpretation
Financial Literacy Levels
Financial Literacy Levels Interpretation
Income and Wealth Distribution
Income and Wealth Distribution Interpretation
Retirement Security
Retirement Security Interpretation
Savings Habits
Savings Habits Interpretation
How We Rate Confidence
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
Henrik Dahl. (2026, February 13). Financial Wellness Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/financial-wellness-statistics
Henrik Dahl. "Financial Wellness Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/financial-wellness-statistics.
Henrik Dahl. 2026. "Financial Wellness Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/financial-wellness-statistics.
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