UK Personal Finance Statistics 2026
The average UK adult has £17,365 in savings but £4,000 in unsecured debt. Live data on the UK's financial health, borrowing patterns and savings habits.
Average UK Adult Savings
Average Unsecured Debt Per Adult
Adults with No Savings
Total Consumer Credit Outstanding
Total Credit Card Balances
Total Student Loan Book
Adults in Serious Financial Difficulty
Average Monthly Household Spending
Source: FCA Financial Lives Survey · Bank of England · ONS · 2024
About These Statistics
The UK's financial health is deeply polarised. While the average adult holds approximately £17,365 in savings, approximately 11.5 million adults have no savings at all, leaving them with no financial buffer against unexpected costs.
Consumer credit outstanding stands at approximately £230 billion, including credit card balances (£70 billion) and personal loans. The FCA estimates approximately 8.9 million UK adults are in serious financial difficulty, meaning they have missed bill payments in the last 6 months.
The outstanding student loan book in England stands at over £230 billion and is growing. The average graduate from English universities owes approximately £45,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on official UK government data
What is the average UK savings amount?
The average UK adult has approximately £17,365 in savings, according to FCA data. However, the median figure is much lower at around £6,000. Approximately 11.5 million UK adults have no savings whatsoever.
How much debt does the average UK person have?
The average UK adult carries approximately £4,000 in unsecured consumer debt. Total consumer credit outstanding is approximately £230 billion. If mortgage debt is included, the average UK household owes around £135,000.
How many people in the UK are in financial difficulty?
The FCA's Financial Lives survey found approximately 8.9 million UK adults are in serious financial difficulty — defined as having missed or made late payments on bills or credit in the last six months.
What is the UK savings rate?
The UK household saving ratio was approximately 8.9% in 2024, above pre-pandemic levels of around 6-7%. The current above-average saving rate partly reflects households' caution after the cost of living shock.
How does UK personal debt compare internationally?
UK household debt as a percentage of income is around 135% of gross disposable income — above the OECD average of around 100% and higher than Germany (95%), though below Denmark (250%) and Australia (215%).
UK Consumer Credit Outstanding — by Type
Total outstanding balances. Source: Bank of England.
| Credit Type | Outstanding Balance | Annual Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mortgages | £1,650 billion | +3.2% |
| Student Loans (England) | £230 billion | +7.1% |
| Credit Cards | £70 billion | +4.9% |
| Personal Loans | £115 billion | +3.3% |
| Overdrafts | £7 billion | -2.1% |
| Total Consumer Credit | £230 billion | +3.8% |
Source: Bank of England Money and Credit Statistics
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