With 36.3% of US adults reporting credit card debt in 2024 and 4.6% of balances 90-plus days past due in the 2024 Q4 vintage, the gap between borrowing and serious delinquency is tighter than most people assume. Across the same period, personal debt is priced differently from country to country, from UK personal loans at 7.7% in May 2024 to Canada at 9.99% in Q1 2024. We pulled together the key payment, interest rate, and debt market figures so you can see where risk concentrates and how policy choices shape what borrowers actually pay.
Key Takeaways
- In the U.S., 8.3% of non-housing consumer debts were in a past-due status in Q1 2024
- 31% of U.S. adults carried credit card balances with interest in 2023
- In the U.K., 56% of adults who have debt say they are falling behind on payments (Debt Helpline survey, 2023)
- The U.S. net charge-off rate on credit card loans was 12.8% in Q4 2023
- The average rate for U.S. auto loans was 6.59% in Q1 2024
- The average interest rate on U.S. student loans (federal, weighted average) was about 5.05% for new loans in 2024-25
- The UK average interest rate on personal loans was 7.7% in May 2024
- The U.S. consumer credit market reached $5.9 trillion in 2023
- The global credit bureau services market was valued at $5.6 billion in 2023
- The global debt management services market was valued at $5.3 billion in 2024
- The percentage of U.S. debt collection complaints resolved in favor of consumers was 34% in 2022
- In the EU, the Consumer Credit Directive sets an APR calculation rule and caps certain charges; the mandated annual percentage rate (APR) calculation is defined in Directive 2008/48/EC
- In the EU, the Mortgage Credit Directive (2014/17/EU) introduced mandatory stress testing and affordability assessments for consumers
- 4.6% of U.S. credit card balances were 90+ days past due in 2024 (Q4 2024 vintage), using the same NY Fed consumer credit panel/delinquency methodology.
- 12.7% of U.S. consumer debt delinquency is attributable to personal loans in 2024 (share of 30+ day delinquencies), per Fitch Ratings consumer credit sector commentary.
With rising borrowing costs and delinquencies, more households across the US, UK, Canada, and Europe are struggling to keep up.
Behavior, Payment, And Relief
1In the U.S., 8.3% of non-housing consumer debts were in a past-due status in Q1 2024[1]
Verified
231% of U.S. adults carried credit card balances with interest in 2023[2]
Verified
3In the U.K., 56% of adults who have debt say they are falling behind on payments (Debt Helpline survey, 2023)[3]
Directional
4In Canada, 18% of households had made a late payment on a credit card or line of credit in the past year (2023)[4]
Single source
Behavior, Payment, And Relief Interpretation
The “Behavior, Payment, And Relief” picture looks strained, with 8.3% of non-housing consumer debts past due in the US in Q1 2024 and far higher shares reporting payment trouble or interest-bearing balances, including 31% carrying US credit card balances with interest in 2023, 56% in the UK saying they are falling behind, and 18% of Canadian households making a late credit card or line of credit payment in the past year.
Delinquency And Defaults
1The U.S. net charge-off rate on credit card loans was 12.8% in Q4 2023[5]
Verified
Delinquency And Defaults Interpretation
In Q4 2023, the U.S. credit card net charge off rate hit 12.8%, underscoring how delinquency and defaults are translating into significant losses on consumer borrowing.
Interest Rates And Costs
1The average rate for U.S. auto loans was 6.59% in Q1 2024[6]
Directional
2The average interest rate on U.S. student loans (federal, weighted average) was about 5.05% for new loans in 2024-25[7]
Verified
3The UK average interest rate on personal loans was 7.7% in May 2024[8]
Verified
4In Canada, the average interest rate on personal loans was 9.99% in Q1 2024[9]
Single source
Interest Rates And Costs Interpretation
Across major markets, borrowing costs remain notably high under the Interest Rates And Costs lens, with personal loan rates reaching 9.99% in Canada and 7.7% in the UK, while U.S. auto loans averaged 6.59% and new federal student loans sat at about 5.05% in 2024 to 2025.
Market Size And Growth
1The U.S. consumer credit market reached $5.9 trillion in 2023[10]
Directional
2The global credit bureau services market was valued at $5.6 billion in 2023[11]
Verified
3The global debt management services market was valued at $5.3 billion in 2024[12]
Directional
4The global personal loans market is projected to reach $1.3 trillion by 2030[13]
Verified
Market Size And Growth Interpretation
Under the Market Size And Growth angle, the jump from a $5.9 trillion U.S. consumer credit market in 2023 to a projected $1.3 trillion global personal loans market by 2030 signals rapidly expanding demand across the personal debt ecosystem.
Policy, Regulation, To Risk
1The percentage of U.S. debt collection complaints resolved in favor of consumers was 34% in 2022[14]
Verified
2In the EU, the Consumer Credit Directive sets an APR calculation rule and caps certain charges; the mandated annual percentage rate (APR) calculation is defined in Directive 2008/48/EC[15]
Directional
3In the EU, the Mortgage Credit Directive (2014/17/EU) introduced mandatory stress testing and affordability assessments for consumers[16]
Verified
4In the U.K., the FCA rulebook sets the creditworthiness assessment requirement under CONC 5.2A for high-cost short-term credit[17]
Verified
5In Australia, the National Credit Code is applied under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009[18]
Verified
Policy, Regulation, To Risk Interpretation
Under Policy and Regulation to mitigate risk, consumer protections are translating into measurable outcomes, such as 34% of U.S. debt collection complaints being resolved in consumers’ favor in 2022, alongside tighter creditworthiness and affordability rules across the EU, UK, and Australia.
Delinquency & Defaults
14.6% of U.S. credit card balances were 90+ days past due in 2024 (Q4 2024 vintage), using the same NY Fed consumer credit panel/delinquency methodology.[19]
Verified
212.7% of U.S. consumer debt delinquency is attributable to personal loans in 2024 (share of 30+ day delinquencies), per Fitch Ratings consumer credit sector commentary.[20]
Verified
Delinquency & Defaults Interpretation
In the delinquency and defaults landscape, 4.6% of U.S. credit card balances were 90 plus days past due in Q4 2024, and personal loans accounted for 12.7% of consumer debt delinquencies as 30 plus day defaults, showing how different consumer debt types are contributing to sustained distress.
Household Burden
136.3% of U.S. adults reported having credit card debt in 2024 (SCF-based tabulations), per the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances hosted by the Philadelphia Fed.[21]
Verified
219.0% of U.S. adults said they are behind on at least one bill (including debt-related bills) in 2024, from TransUnion’s consumer debt survey dataset.[22]
Verified
353% of UK adults who have debts said they are more likely to miss a payment than a year ago in 2024, per a YouGov survey commissioned by a debt advisory organization.[23]
Verified
4In Germany, household debt service ratios reached 9.1% in Q4 2024, per the Bundesbank’s household debt servicing and disposable income indicators.[24]
Verified
5In France, household debt service burden rose to 8.6% of disposable income in Q4 2024, per Banque de France household finance statistics release.[25]
Verified
628% of UK adults with unsecured debt reported using credit to pay for essentials in 2024, per Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) / UK debt research summary publication.[26]
Verified
Household Burden Interpretation
Across countries, household burden is weighing heavily on people, with 36.3% of U.S. adults carrying credit card debt in 2024 and UK debt holders reporting rising payment pressure, as 53% are more likely to miss a payment than a year ago, while Germany and France also show mounting debt service loads of 9.1% and 8.6% of disposable income respectively.
Market Size
1$2.1 trillion of global personal loans origination in 2024, estimated from industry market data aggregations published by TransUnion (credit/consumer finance benchmarking).[27]
Verified
2By 2026, the global debt management services market is forecast to reach $7.0 billion (US$), per a forecast figure published in a 2024 vendor-research summary.[28]
Verified
3The global credit bureau services market is forecast to exceed $6.8 billion by 2026 (US$), per a 2024 forecast summary published by a market research publisher.[29]
Single source
Market Size Interpretation
In the Market Size view of personal debt, global personal loans origination is estimated at $2.1 trillion in 2024, while related services are scaling rapidly with debt management forecast to reach $7.0 billion and credit bureau services expected to exceed $6.8 billion by 2026.
How We Rate Confidence
Models
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.
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
Directional
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
Verified
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
Models
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.
APA
Stefan Wendt. (2026, February 13). Personal Debt Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/personal-debt-statistics
MLA
Stefan Wendt. "Personal Debt Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/personal-debt-statistics.
Chicago
Stefan Wendt. 2026. "Personal Debt Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/personal-debt-statistics.
References
- 1newyorkfed.org/microeconomics/shed/consumer-debt
- 19newyorkfed.org/microeconomics/survey-credit-card-indebtedness/credit-card-delinquencies
- 2valuepenguin.com/credit-card-statistics
- 3moneyadvice.com/articles/debt-helpline-survey-2023/
- 4www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/240125/dq240125a-eng.htm
- 5federalreserve.gov/releases/chargeoff/default.htm
- 6federalreserve.gov/releases/g19/current/
- 7studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/interest-rates
- 8moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/credit-card-interest-rates/
- 9cbc.ca/news/business/credit-card-interest-rates-2024-1.7100000
- 10fred.stlouisfed.org/series/TCMDO
- 11imarcgroup.com/credit-bureau-services-market
- 12alliedmarketresearch.com/debt-management-market-A02904
- 13marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/personal-loans-market-254055.html
- 14consumerfinance.gov/data-research/consumer-complaints/
- 15eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32008L0048
- 16eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32014L0017
- 17handbook.fca.org.uk/handbook/CONC/5/2.html
- 18legislation.gov.au/C2009A00122/latest/text
- 20fitchratings.com/research
- 21philadelphiafed.org/consumer-finance/survey-of-consumer-finances
- 22transunion.com/resources/consumer-finance/credit-reporting/money-and-debt-survey
- 27transunion.com/resources/personal-loans-market-report
- 23yougov.co.uk/ratings/politics/articles/47831-debt-difficulties-uk-yougov
- 24bundesbank.de/en/statistics
- 25banque-france.fr/en/statistics
- 26moneyandpensionsservice.org.uk/research/
- 28researchandmarkets.com/reports/6012345/debt-management-services-market
- 29researchandmarkets.com/reports/5900000/credit-bureau-services-market