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Statistics Yearbook 2025

The Statistics Yearbook 2025 uncovers the complex reality of problem debt in the UK, providing essential insight into the financial position of many households.

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Our annual publication explores the debt and demographic situation of clients, who fully completed their very first debt advice session, between January and December 2025.

In 2025, over 160,000 clients completed debt advice for the first time, and our analysis provides a picture of their situation, compared to clients in previous years.

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Introduction from the CEO, Vikki Brownridge


This Statistics Yearbook covers the first year of our 2025-2030 strategy. This marks a renewed commitment to the delivery of free, confidential, and impartial debt advice – guiding principles that have shaped our approach for 33 years.

It will come as no surprise to our colleagues here at StepChange that even as wider attention shifts away from the worst of the cost-of-living crisis, far too many remain in financial difficulty.

Looking forward, StepChange remains committed to our core vision: Through direct support, advocacy, and campaigning we will work to see fewer people falling into problem debt and reduce the harm experienced by those that do.

Vikki Brownridge, CEO

Some of the key findings from the latest Statistics Yearbook include:

163,916 new clients completed their first debt advice session in 2025

Most clients are in employment, and the proportion of clients in full-time employment has grown again, from 43% in 2024, to 44% in 2025.

Renters continue to be particularly vulnerable to problem debt. The proportion of clients who rent privately increased from 32% in 2024, to 33% in 2025.

Problem debt impacts widely, but some groups are disproportionately vulnerable. 25-34 year olds are overrepresented in our client base (33%) versus the UK adult population (17%).

In 2025, the average (mean) arrears and unsecured debt amount total increased by 10%.

Want more information?

Our client data enables us to undertake further analysis and draw out even more insights about the situations of clients seeking debt advice from StepChange in 2025.

If you want to find out more about our Statistics Yearbook publications, or our research, please email us at policy@stepchange.org.

download icon Download the report
data icon Download the dataset
document icon Read the press release