Total U.S. household personal debt stands at 17.5 trillion dollars. Fifty eight percent of adults hold less than 1,000 dollars in savings. Figures on credit card balances, retirement accounts, and spending patterns document the resulting financial picture.
Key Takeaways
- Average U.S. personal credit card debt reached $6,501 per borrower in Q4 2023, up 7% YoY.
- Median personal income for full-time U.S. workers was $60,070 in 2023.
- Average personal retirement contribution: 7.4% of salary to 401(k) in 2023.
- In 2023, the median personal savings account balance for Americans aged 25-34 was $5,400, reflecting a 12% increase from 2022 due to higher interest rates.
- Average personal spending on housing was 33% of income ($24,000/year) in 2023.
Increased activity helped improve my stats over time, making steady progress feel genuinely measurable.
Related reading
01 · Category
Debt and Credit27 stats
01
Average U.S. personal credit card debt reached $6,501per borrower in Q4 2023, up 7% YoY.
02
45% of Americans carry a personal credit card balance month-to-month, averaging $2,600 unpaid interest annually.
03
Student loan personal debt totals $1.61 trillion across 42.6 million borrowers in 2023.
04
Median personal mortgage debt for U.S. homeowners: $232,000in 2023.
05
Personal auto loan debt averaged $23,155per borrower in 2023, with delinquency rates at 4.1%.
06
78 million Americans have personal debt in collections, totaling $452 billion in 2023.
07
Average personal loan balance: $9,633in 2023, up 10% from 2022 per TransUnion.
08
Personal bankruptcy filings: 418,000 in 2023, down 5% YoY but still elevated post-COVID.
09
Credit score average U.S.: 715 in 2023, with sub-600 scores held by 16% of adults.
10
Personal medical debt affects 41% of Americans, averaging $2,000 per person in 2023.
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Total U.S. household personal debt: $17.5 trillion in Q4 2023, revolving debt up 8.7% YoY.
12
34% of Millennials have personal debt over $50,000 excluding mortgage in 2023.
13
Personal loan delinquency rate: 3.2% in Q3 2023, highest since 2010 per FDIC.
14
Average personal credit utilization rate: 29% in 2023, optimal under 30% for scores.
15
Gen Z personal debt growth: 25% increase to $18,673 average since 2021.
16
Personal debt-to-income ratio average: 36% for U.S. households in 2023.
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21% of Americans maxed out personal credit cards in past year (2023 survey).
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Buy now, pay later personal debt: $168 billion outstanding in U.S. 2023.
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Personal debt for 65+: $4.8 trillion total, led by mortgages at $1.8T in 2023.
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Average time to pay off personal credit card debt: 24 months at current rates.
21
Personal installment debt (non-housing): $3.5 trillion, up 11% YoY in 2023.
22
56% of low-income households have personal payday loan debt exposure.
23
Credit inquiry impact: Personal hard inquiries drop score by 5-10 points avg.
24
Personal debt snowball method users reduce debt 15% faster per 2023 studies.
25
U.S. personal debt service ratio: 9.8% of disposable income in Q4 2023.
26
29% of Americans with personal debt feel "overwhelmed" in 2023 surveys.
27
Personal HELOC debt: $370 billion outstanding, rates at 8.5% avg 2023.
Interpretation
Debt and Credit Interpretation
The American Dream now comes with a very high-interest, multi-trillion dollar price tag, and judging by these numbers, a distressingly large portion of the population is just one missed payment away from having that dream repossessed.
02 · Category
Income and Earnings24 stats
01
Median personal income for full-time U.S. workers was $60,070in 2023.
02
Average hourly personal earnings: $34.12for private sector in Dec 2023.
03
U.S. personal income grew 6.4% YoY to $23.0 trillion annualized in 2023.
04
Median household personal income: $74,580in 2022 (latest full data).
05
Top 10% earners capture 47% of total U.S. personal income in 2023.
06
Women's personal earnings: 83% of men's median ($56,100 vs. $67,704) 2023.
07
Gig economy personal income: $1,000/month avg for 36% of participants 2023.
08
Real median personal income per capita: $37,610up 2.4% inflation-adjusted 2022.
09
Black Americans' median personal income: $45,438vs. $77,999 white in 2022.
10
Overtime personal earnings premium: 1.4x regular rate avg across industries 2023.
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Remote workers' personal income 15% higher on avg ($82K vs $71K office) 2023.
12
CEO personal compensation: $16.3 million median for S&P 500 in 2023.
13
Minimum wage personal earnings: $7.25federal, but 30 states higher avg $15.67 2024.
14
Side hustle personal income: 40% of Americans earn $891/month avg 2023.
15
Personal income by education: Bachelor's $68K, high school $42K median 2023.
16
Inflation-adjusted personal income growth: 1.2% for bottom 50% vs 3.8% top 1% 2023.
17
Union members' personal earnings: 10-20% premium over non-union $1,200/year extra.
18
Personal income tax filers: 153.6 million returns with $4.9T AGI in 2022.
19
Age 25-34 median personal income: $52,000in 2023.
20
Personal income disparity urban vs rural: $65K vs $48K median 2023.
21
STEM personal earnings: $95,000median vs $40K non-STEM 2023.
22
Disability personal income: $35,000median, 60% poverty risk higher 2023.
23
Personal income from investments: 5% of total AGI avg for top quintile 2022.
24
55% of U.S. adults live paycheck-to-paycheck despite median personal income rise 2023.
Interpretation
Income and Earnings Interpretation
While the typical American paycheck has gotten a little bigger, the financial story of the country is one where a rising tide seems to lift the yachts much faster than the rowboats, leaving many to paddle furiously just to stay afloat.
03 · Category
Retirement and Investments24 stats
01
Average personal retirement contribution: 7.4% of salary to 401(k) in 2023.
02
56% of Americans have personal IRA or 401(k), avg balance $129,000 age 44+ 2023.
03
Personal stock market participation: 62% of U.S. adults own stocks directly/indirectly 2023.
04
Average personal 401(k) return: 9.7% annualized over 10 years to 2023.
05
Personal Roth IRA adoption: 22 million accounts, $1.2T assets in 2023.
06
401(k) personal vesting: 80% fully vested after 5 years avg plan 2023.
07
Personal crypto holdings: 13% of adults own, avg $5,000 value 2023.
08
Target-date fund personal allocation: 40% of 401(k) assets $3T total 2023.
09
Personal dividend income: $60B annually from S&P 500 to individuals 2023.
10
Women lag men by 30% in personal retirement savings avg $168K vs $245K 2023.
11
Personal ESG investing: 33% of assets under management $17T global 2023.
12
Average personal bond allocation in retirement portfolios: 45% for 60+ 2023.
13
Self-directed personal brokerage accounts: 50 million U.S., $10T assets 2023.
14
Personal pension coverage: Down to 15% of private workers from 38% 1980s.
15
Robo-advisor personal AUM: $6 trillion globally, 25% YoY growth 2023.
16
Personal real estate as retirement asset: 28% of net worth avg household 2023.
17
529 college savings personal plans: 14.5M accounts $500B assets 2023.
18
Personal annuities in force: $2.8 trillion, payouts $70B/year 2023.
19
Stock market correction impact: Personal 401(k)s drop 10-15% avg in 2022 dip.
20
Personal HSA balances: Avg $4,000,30M accounts $100B total 2023.
21
Diversification in personal portfolios: 65% hold 10+ asset classes 2023.
22
Personal capital gains tax realizations: $600B in 2022, top 1% 70% share.
23
Retirement withdrawal rate personal avg: 4.2% first year sustainable.
24
Personal ETF holdings: $7.5T U.S., 50% in retirement accounts 2023.
Interpretation
Retirement and Investments Interpretation
While we've become adept at spreading our bets across stocks, crypto, and robo-advisors, the sobering truth remains that our collective financial future hinges on a patchwork system where too many are still racing to catch up, women are disproportionately behind, and a comfortable retirement feels less like a shared certainty and more like a personal high-stakes puzzle.
More related reading
04 · Category
Savings and Wealth30 stats
01
In 2023, the median personal savings account balance for Americans aged 25-34 was $5,400,reflecting a 12% increase from 2022 due to higher interest rates.
02
58% of U.S. adults have less than $1,000 in personal savings as of Q4 2023, with emergency fund adequacy cited as a major concern by 62% of respondents.
03
The average personal retirement savings for Americans aged 55-64 reached $185,000in 2023, up 8% YoY, driven by stock market gains.
04
Globally, personal net worth per adult averaged $84,718in 2022, with the U.S. leading at $551,347 per adult according to Credit Suisse data.
05
41% of Gen Z individuals (18-25) reported having zero personal savings in 2023, compared to 34% of Millennials at the same age a decade ago.
06
Personal liquid savings in the U.S. household sector stood at $16.2 trillion in mid-2023, down from pandemic highs but still elevated by historical standards.
07
Women in the U.S. hold 30% less personal savings than men on average ($11,500 vs. $16,400) as of 2023, per Empower data.
08
The personal savings rate in the U.S. dropped to 3.8% in December 2023, the lowest since 1961 outside of recessions.
09
High-net-worth individuals (>$1M personal assets) numbered 22.7 million globally in 2023, up 5.1% YoY per Capgemini.
10
27% of Americans have over $100,000 in personal retirement savings by age 50, according to Northwestern Mutual's 2023 Planning & Progress Study.
11
Average personal checking account balance in the U.S. was $8,200in 2023, varying by age with 65+ at $16,500.
12
Personal wealth inequality: Top 1% of U.S. adults hold 32% of total personal wealth ($50 trillion) in 2023.
13
49% of U.S. households have three months or less in personal emergency savings as of 2023.
14
Personal savings in Europe averaged €18,500 per adult in 2022, with Switzerland highest at €168,000.
15
U.S. personal savings from stimulus checks peaked at $2.3 trillion excess in 2021, dissipating to $400B by 2023.
16
Millennials' average personal savings: $40,500in 2023, projected to lag Boomers by 20% at same age.
17
62% of self-employed Americans have less than $10,000 in personal business savings in 2023.
18
Personal net financial assets per U.S. household: $327,500median in 2022 SCF data.
19
Asia-Pacific personal wealth grew 4.2% to $68 trillion in 2023, led by China.
20
35% of U.S. adults under 40 have no personal savings beyond $500 in 2023.
21
Baby Boomers hold 52% of U.S. personal wealth ($78 trillion) despite being 20% of population in 2023.
22
Average personal 401(k) balance: $134,000for ages 55-64 in 2023.
23
Personal savings gap: Americans need $1.46M for retirement but have $88K average.
24
71% of high-income earners (>$100K) have $50K+ personal savings vs. 12% low-income.
25
Global personal financial assets: $209 trillion in 2022, per Allianz.
26
U.S. personal savings rate by state highest in UT (8.5%), lowest MS (2.1%) in 2023.
27
44% of Americans can't cover $1,000 emergency from personal savings alone in 2023.
28
Personal wealth per capita in Norway: $289,000USD equivalent in 2023.
29
Gen X average personal savings: $141,000in 2023, per Fidelity.
30
23% increase in personal savings apps usage (e.g., Acorns) users from 2022-2023.
Interpretation
Savings and Wealth Interpretation
America’s financial portrait reveals a nation nervously clutching its piggy banks, where minor gains in savings and a shrinking national rate coexist with a stark generational wealth gap, widespread financial fragility, and an alarming number of people who couldn't afford a surprise car repair.
05 · Category
Spending Habits24 stats
01
Average personal spending on housing was 33% of income ($24,000/year) in 2023.
02
U.S. personal consumption expenditures: $18.1 trillion annualized in Dec 2023.
03
28% of personal spending goes to food and transportation combined in 2023 CPI data.
04
Average personal monthly grocery spending: $475per household up 25% since 2020.
05
Personal dining out spend: $3,500/year avg, 51% increase post-pandemic 2023.
06
Subscription services personal spend: $219/month avg for 50% of Americans 2023.
07
Personal apparel spending down 2% to $1,800/year amid inflation 2023.
08
42% of personal income spent on "needs" vs 30% "wants" per 2023 surveys.
09
Average personal entertainment spend: $2,900/year, streaming $500 of that 2023.
10
Personal healthcare spending: $5,277per capita in 2022 (latest), up 4.1%.
11
Impulse buying personal spend: $232/month avg, 54% regret per survey 2023.
12
Personal travel spending: $2,800/year avg, international up 15% 2023.
13
Gen Z personal spending on social media ads influenced: 25% of budget.
14
Average personal utility bills: $436/month up 7% YoY in 2023.
15
Personal education spending (non-tuition): $1,200/year avg K-12 families 2023.
16
37% of personal spending tracked via apps in 2023, up from 24% 2021.
17
Personal pet spending: $1,300/year avg for 70M households 2023.
18
Holiday personal spending: $888avg per consumer down 7% from 2022.
19
Personal gym/fitness spend: $552/year avg, home equipment $200 2023.
20
Frugal spending trend: 60% cut personal luxuries by 10% in 2023.
21
Personal alcohol spending: $600/year avg, wine 40% of that 2023.
22
Online personal shopping: 35% of total spend $6,300/year avg 2023.
23
Personal childcare costs: $10,853/year avg per child 2023.
24
Coffee personal spend: $1,092/year avg for daily drinkers 2023.
Interpretation
Spending Habits Interpretation
In the ledger of modern life, we see a portrait of strain and adaptation, where the necessities of housing and healthcare squeeze the budget, the lure of subscriptions and impulse buys gnaws at restraint, and the American wallet is diligently tracked, stretched, and consciously cut, all while still finding room for pets, travel, and a truly staggering amount of coffee.
Reference
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APA
Marie Larsen. (2026, February 13). Personal Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/personal-statistics
MLA
Marie Larsen. "Personal Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/personal-statistics.
Chicago
Marie Larsen. 2026. "Personal Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/personal-statistics.
Sources & references
71 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level