Americans in Their 50s Have the Highest Average Credit Card Debt

elderly woman in light pink shirt holding a phone and looking at a card

The total amount of credit card debt in the U.S. reached $829 billion, according to Experian data for the second quarter (Q2) of 2019. As part of our continued review of credit card debt in America, Experian analyzed the average credit card debt carried by consumers age 20 to 99 to see who carried the highest balances.

Credit Card Debt Highest Among Consumers in Their Early 50s

Overall, 51-year-old consumers in the U.S. have the highest average credit card balance of all, carrying an average of $8,658, according to Q2 2019 Experian data. They were followed by 52-year-olds and 50-year-olds, who carried the second- and third-highest average credit card balances, respectively.

Consumers in Their 90s Have the Lowest Credit Card Debt

On the other end of the spectrum, 98-year-olds have the lowest credit card balance, owing an average of $1,098, according to Experian data. They were followed by 97-year-olds and 99-year-olds, who had the second- and third-lowest balances, respectively.

Consumers Ages 40 to 69 Have Above Average Credit Card Debt

The average credit card debt for borrowers 40 to 69 was consistently above the national average of $6,194, according to Experian data.

Consumers in Their 20s

The average credit card balance among consumers in their 20s was $2,709 in Q2 2019. Credit card debt increased the most among 20-year-olds year over year with a 5% change, up from an average of $2,581 in Q2 2018, according to Experian data.

Average Credit Card Debt Among Consumers in Their 20s
AgeAverage Credit Card Debt
20$2,310
21$1,881
22$1,939
23$2,180
24$2,418
25$2,675
26$2,947
27$3,242
28$3,573
29$3,927

Source: Experian Q2 2019 data

Consumers in Their 30s

The average credit card balance among consumers in their 30s was $5,563 in Q2 2019. That's up 1.8% from an average of $5,466 in Q2 2018.

Average Credit Card Debt Among Consumers in Their 30s
AgeAverage Credit Card Debt
30$4,216
31$4,530
32$4,845
33$5,137
34$5,463
35$5,716
36$6,013
37$6,311
38$6,575
39$6,827

Source: Experian Q2 2019 data

Consumers in Their 40s

The average credit card balance among consumers in their 40s was $7,922 in Q2 2019. That's up 2.2% from an average of $7,750 in Q2 2018.

Average Credit Card Debt Among Consumers in Their 40s
AgeAverage Credit Card Debt
40$7,067
41$7,329
42$7,553
43$7,780
44$7,924
45$8,067
46$8,213
47$8,319
48$8,404
49$8,561

Source: Experian Q2 2019 data

Consumers in Their 50s

The average credit card balance among consumers in their 50s was $8,364 in Q2 2019. That's up 3% from an average of $8,116 in Q2 2018. Americans in their 50s carried the highest average credit card debt in Q2 2019.

Average Credit Card Debt Among Consumers in Their 50s
AgeAverage Credit Card Debt
50$8,635
51$8,658
52$8,644
53$8,626
54$8,516
55$8,378
56$8,312
57$8,093
58$7,931
59$7,842

Source: Experian Q2 2019 data

Consumers in Their 60s

The average credit card balance among consumers in their 60s was $6,832 in Q2 2019. That's up 1.9% from an average of $6,701 in Q2 2018.

Average Credit Card Debt Among Consumers in Their 60s
AgeAverage Credit Card Debt
60$7,642
61$7,424
62$7,254
63$7,100
64$6,903
65$6,726
66$6,574
67$6,403
68$6,191
69$6,098

Source: Experian Q2 2019 data

Consumers in Their 70s

The average credit card balance among consumers in their 70s was $5,250 in Q2 2019. That's up 2.1% from an average of $5,139 in Q2 2018.

Average Credit Card Debt Among Consumers in Their 70s
AgeAverage Credit Card Debt
70$5,934
71$5,870
72$5,739
73$5,644
74$5,479
75$5,212
76$5,003
77$4,773
78$4,579
79$4,262

Source: Experian Q2 2019 data

Consumers in Their 80s

The average credit card balance among consumers in their 80s was $2,990 in Q2 2019. That's up 4% from an average of $2,876 in Q2 2018.

Average Credit Card Debt Among Consumers in Their 80s
AgeAverage Credit Card Debt
80$4,032
81$3,780
82$3,521
83$3,302
84$3,050
85$2,831
86$2,618
87$2,430
88$2,265
89$2,070

Source: Experian Q2 2019 data

Consumers in Their 90s

The average credit card balance among consumers 90 through 99 years old was the lowest among all age groups at $1,433 in Q2 2019. That's up 4.6% from an average of $1,370 in Q2 2018.

Average Credit Card Debt Among Consumers in Their 90s
AgeAverage Credit Card Debt
90$1,899
91$1,780
92$1,635
93$1,511
94$1,407
95$1,334
96$1,269
97$1,197
98$1,098
99$1,198

Source: Experian Q2 2019 data

Methodology: The analysis results provided are based on an Experian-created statistically relevant aggregate sampling of our consumer credit database that may include use of the FICO® Score 8 version. Different sampling parameters may generate different findings compared with other similar analysis. Analyzed credit data did not contain personal identification information. Metro areas group counties and cities into specific geographic areas for population censuses and compilations of related statistical data.

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