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UK personal debt in the first half of 2017

Download our Mid-Yearbook

Looking for the most recent personal debt statistics?

This page gives a summary of our 2017 Statistics Mid-Yearbook. You can find the most up-to-date personal debt statistics in our 2018 Statistics Yearbook report.

Personal debt statistics 2017

Explore the latest personal and household debt trends in 2017. Our Statistics Mid-Yearbook takes an in-depth look at more than 300,000 people struggling with problem debt.

1. Demand for debt advice is growing

In the first half of 2017, 326,639 people contacted StepChange Debt Charity for help and support with their problem debt. This equates to 1 person contacting us every 48 seconds.

demand for debt advice is high

2. Personal debt levels are rising

In 2016 the average unsecured debt of our clients increased for the first time in eight years.Our latest data shows this is a continuing trend in 2017. Our clients now have an average outstanding debt balance of £14,367.

debt levels are rising

3. More than two in five clients are behind on household bills

There has been a rise in the number of clients falling behind on household bills in the first half of 2017.

behind on their household bills

4. Our clients are getting younger

The proportion of younger clients seeking debt advice has continued to grow over the past five years. Almost two thirds of clients are under 40, which is a 10% rise on levels recorded five years ago

people in debt getting younger

5. More renters are seeking advice

We are seeing fewer homeowners and an increased number of renters contacting us for advice and support with their problem debt.Our stats show that four out of five of our clients are now renters.

more renters seeking debt advice

Download the Statistics Mid-Yearbook 2017 for the full picture*

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*The data in this Statistics Mid-Yearbook is drawn from a StepChange Debt Charity warehouse containing the details of 23,874,197 million calls and 4 million clients. The figures are based on the 193,885 new clients debt advised from 1 January to 30 June 2017.

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