Who's (Not) Paying off a Loan?

Credit scores are falling in the United States. According to an analysis by software company FICO, the average FICO credit score dropped from 171 in 2024 to 715 in 2025, marking the biggest single-year drop since the financial crisis. Analysts say Gen Z adults saw the biggest average score decline, largely due to an increase in missed student loan payments after the Covid-era pause on repayments ended. Among other things, credit scores affect whether individuals can get a credit card or borrow money to buy a car or house.

A new survey by Statista Consumer Insights found that around one in five adults in the United States is currently paying off a loan. This puts the U.S. near the median of the surveyed countries, with Sweden at the higher end as 32 percent of respondents reported having outstanding loans while Japan ranked lowest at just six percent. The survey was conducted among adults aged 18 to 64 years old across 21 countries between July 2024 and June 2025.