Credit card debt is widespread in the US, with 36.3% of adults reporting balances in 2024. Serious delinquency shows up for 4.6% of US credit card balances that were 90 plus days past due in the Q4 2024 vintage. This article breaks down payment strain and borrowing costs across countries, including personal loan rates of 7.7% in the UK and 9.99% in Canada in the latest figures.
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.
Related reading
01 · Category
Behavior, Payment, And Relief4 stats
01
In the U.S., 8.3% of non-housing consumer debts were in a past-due status in Q1 2024
02
31% of U.S. adults carried credit card balances with interest in 2023
03
In the U.K., 56% of adults who have debt say they are falling behind on payments (Debt Helpline survey, 2023)
04
In Canada, 18% of households had made a late payment on a credit card or line of credit in the past year (2023)
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Delinquency And Defaults1 stats
01
The U.S. net charge-off rate on credit card loans was 12.8% in Q4 2023
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
Interest Rates And Costs4 stats
01
The average rate for U.S. auto loans was 6.59% in Q1 2024
02
The average interest rate on U.S. student loans (federal, weighted average) was about 5.05% for new loans in 2024-25
03
The UK average interest rate on personal loans was 7.7% in May 2024
04
In Canada, the average interest rate on personal loans was 9.99% in Q1 2024
Interpretation
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.
04 · Category
Market Size And Growth4 stats
01
The U.S. consumer credit market reached $5.9 trillion in 2023
02
The global credit bureau services market was valued at $5.6 billion in 2023
03
The global debt management services market was valued at $5.3 billion in 2024
04
The global personal loans market is projected to reach $1.3 trillion by 2030
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
05 · Category
Policy, Regulation, To Risk5 stats
01
The percentage of U.S. debt collection complaints resolved in favor of consumers was 34% in 2022
02
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
03
In the EU, the Mortgage Credit Directive (2014/17/EU) introduced mandatory stress testing and affordability assessments for consumers
04
In the U.K., the FCA rulebook sets the creditworthiness assessment requirement under CONC 5.2A for high-cost short-term credit
05
In Australia, the National Credit Code is applied under the National Consumer Credit Protection Act 2009
Interpretation
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.
06 · Category
Delinquency & Defaults2 stats
01
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.
02
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.
Interpretation
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.
07 · Category
Household Burden6 stats
01
36.3% 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.
02
19.0% 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.
03
53% 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.
04
In Germany, household debt service ratios reached 9.1% in Q4 2024, per the Bundesbank’s household debt servicing and disposable income indicators.
05
In France, household debt service burden rose to 8.6% of disposable income in Q4 2024, per Banque de France household finance statistics release.
06
28% 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.
Interpretation
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.
08 · Category
Market Size3 stats
01
$2.1 trillion of global personal loans origination in 2024, estimated from industry market data aggregations published by TransUnion (credit/consumer finance benchmarking).
02
By 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.
03
The 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.
Interpretation
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.
Reference
Cite This Report
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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.
Sources & references
29 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+5 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)