Personal loans serve various financial needs, including consolidating debt and funding significant purchases. These loans are generally unsecured, meaning they do not require collateral, and they typically have fixed interest rates as well as repayment periods can span from a few months to several years. Due to their structured repayment schedules and the fact that you can use the money for nearly anything, personal loans are a useful tool for those who can qualify for them.
Below are some critical statistics that highlight different facets of the personal loan market.
Key Stats for Q4 2025
- Total outstanding personal loan debt: $276 billion
- YoY change: 9.96% increase
- Average debt per borrower: $11,699
- Delinquency rate (60+ days past-due): 3.99%
Personal Loan Interest Rates Over Time
Average 24-Month Personal Loan Interest Rate from Banks
Interest rates for 24-month personal loans decreased by 0.70% from Q1 2023 to Q1 2026.
Source: Federal Reserve, 2025
Average 36-Month Personal Loan Interest Rate from Credit Unions and Banks
The interest rates credit unions charge on 36-month personal loans increased by 15.03% in 2025 compared to 2015, while bank interest rates increased by 17.53%.
Learn more about average personal loan interest rates.
Source: National credit Union Administration, 2025
Total Personal Loan Debt Over Time
Total outstanding personal loan debt increased by 9.96% in Q4 2025, compared to the same quarter the previous year.
Average Personal Loan Debt by State
Washington state recorded the highest average personal loan balance in 2025, nearly twice as much as the average for people in Washington, D.C., who owed the least.
Source: Experian, September 2025
Average Personal Loan Debt by Generation
While Gen Z saw the highest percentage increase in personal loan debt in 2023 compared to the previous year, baby boomers still held the highest average personal loan balance, owing 2.6 times more than Gen Zers.
| Generation (Age) | 2023 | 2022 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation Z (18-26) | $8,710 | $7,684 | 13.40% |
| Millennials (27-42) | $16,669 | $15,101 | 10.40% |
| Generation X (43-58) | $22,259 | $20,677 | 7.70% |
| Baby boomers (59-77) | $22,551 | $21,644 | 4.20% |
| Silent Generation (78+) | $18,547 | $18,211 | 1.80% |
Source: Experian, 2024 (data for Q3 2023)
Average Personal Loan Debt per Borrower
The average debt per borrower has been on a steady incline since 2018, peaking at $11,829 in Q1 2024. This trend indicates that individuals are either borrowing more frequently or opting for larger loan amounts over the years.
Number of Consumers with Personal Loans
The number of consumers with personal loans increased by 25.12% compared from Q4 2018 to Q4 2025.
Personal Loan Delinquency Rate
The delinquency rate reached its highest point since 2018 in Q4 2022, at 4.14%, which is 0.15 percentage points higher than the 3.99% delinquency rate seen in Q4 2025.
Note: Data reflects the percentage of accounts past-due by 60+ days.
Reasons for Getting Personal Loans
The most common uses for personal loans are debt consolidation and making major purchases.
Source: Experian, 2026


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