How much credit card debt is the average American in?
Credit card debt in America by the numbers
What is the average credit card debt? The average American household owes $7,951 in credit card debt a year, according to 2022 data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the U.S. Census Bureau.
There are a couple ways credit card debt can damage your credit score: High balances: A major factor in your credit score is your credit utilization ratio (your credit card balances divided by their credit limits). Once this number gets above about 30%, it's bad for your credit.
Running up $50,000 in credit card debt is not impossible. About two million Americans do it every year. Paying off that bill?
The average annual percentage rate (APR) for credit cards where the user has a balance is 22.63% as of February 2024, according to the most recent numbers from the Federal Reserve.
It's not at all uncommon for households to be swimming in more that twice as much credit card debt. But just because a $15,000 balance isn't rare doesn't mean it's a good thing. Credit card debt is seriously expensive. Most credit cards charge between 15% and 29% interest, so paying down that debt should be a priority.
Around 23% of Americans are debt free, according to the most recent data available from the Federal Reserve. That figure factors in every type of debt, from credit card balances and student loans to mortgages, car loans and more. The exact definition of debt free can vary, though, depending on whom you ask.
“That's because the best balance transfer and personal loan terms are reserved for people with strong credit scores. $20,000 is a lot of credit card debt and it sounds like you're having trouble making progress,” says Rossman.
$5,000 in credit card debt can be quite costly in the long run. That's especially the case if you only make minimum payments each month. However, you don't have to accept decades of credit card debt.
Some of the main consequences are: Your credit score could take a hit. Your credit utilization ratio compares your revolving credit accounts' balances and credit limits, and having a high utilization ratio can hurt your credit scores.
What is the average credit card debt by age?
| Q3 2023 | Q3 2021 | |
|---|---|---|
| Millennials27–42 | $6,521 $6,521 | $4,576 $4,576 |
| Gen X43–58 | $9,123 $9,123 | $7,070 $7,070 |
| Baby boomers59–77 | $6,642 $6,642 | $5,804 $5,804 |
| Silent Generation78+ | $3,412 $3,412 | $3,177 $3,177 |
Options For Paying Off Substantial Credit Card Debt. There are a number of strategies to pay off large amounts of credit card debt. They include personal loans, 0% APR balance transfer cards, debt settlement, bankruptcy, credit counseling and debt management plans. You may be able to use more than one of these options.
The minimum payment mindset
Here's how most people get trapped in credit card debt: You use your card for a purchase you can't afford or want to defer payment, and then you make only the minimum payment that month. Soon, you are in the habit of using your card to purchase things beyond your budget.
What is the average credit score? The average FICO credit score in the US is 717, according to the latest FICO data. The average VantageScore is 701 as of January 2024. Credit scores, which are like a grade for your borrowing history, fall in the range of 300 to 850.
Gen X has the highest average debt balance in all categories, except for personal loans. Here's the breakdown: Credit cards: Gen X have the highest credit card balance compared to other age groups, at $8,215. Auto loans: Gen X have the highest auto loan balance, at $21,570.
U.S. credit card debt. The higher cost of everything from housing to high-tops to haircuts are a major culprit. Although inflation has moderated since it peaked in June 2022, Americans—particularly lower-income families—are relying more on credit cards to cope with the sticker shock.
It will take 47 months to pay off $20,000 with payments of $600 per month, assuming the average credit card APR of around 18%. The time it takes to repay a balance depends on how often you make payments, how big your payments are and what the interest rate charged by the lender is.
Generally speaking, a good debt-to-income ratio is anything less than or equal to 36%. Meanwhile, any ratio above 43% is considered too high. The biggest piece of your DTI ratio pie is bound to be your monthly mortgage payment.
However, multiple accounts may be difficult to track, resulting in missed payments that lower your credit score. You must decide what you can manage and what will make you appear most desirable. Having too many cards with a zero balance will not improve your credit score. In fact, it can actually hurt it.
What percentage of America is debt-free? According to that same Experian study, less than 25% of American households are debt-free. This figure may be small for a variety of reasons, particularly because of the high number of home mortgages and auto loans many Americans have.
Which gender has more debt?
According to a 2019 Experian study, men carry more debt than women across nearly all categories, including credit card debt — the study found that men have $125 more in credit card debt than women on average.
Debt-free living – or at least not carrying high interest balances month to month – should be financial goal No. 1 for anyone who wants to reduce stress and enjoy the financial and lifestyle benefits that come with successful debt management.
- Take advantage of a debt relief service.
- Consolidate your debt with a home equity loan.
- Take advantage of 0% balance transfer credit cards.
| Generation | Ages | Credit Karma members' average credit card debt |
|---|---|---|
| Gen Z | Members 18–26 | $2,781 |
| Millennial | 27–42 | $5,898 |
| Gen X | 43–58 | $8,266 |
| Baby boomer |
$25,000 at 20%: Your minimum payment would be $666.67 per month and it would take 437 months to pay off $25,000 at 20% interest. You would pay $41,056.85 in interest over the life of the debt.
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