U.S. States by Credit Card Debt per Capita, 2025
Credit Card Debt per Capita Across the 50 States
Alaska had the highest credit card debt balance per capita among the 50 U.S. states at year-end 2025, at $5,250. Hawaii followed at $5,220 and New Jersey at $5,160. Mississippi had the lowest state value at $3,030.
The ranking uses the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's annual State-Level Household Debt Statistics from the Consumer Credit Panel/Equifax. Each 2025 observation represents the year-end snapshot. Credit card debt per capita is a balance measure for the population represented by credit reports, not an average balance only among credit card holders.
This is a 2026 snapshot based on the latest confirmed 2025 annual state series. Coverage is all 50 states; the District of Columbia and U.S. territories are excluded because the ranking is limited to states. Higher balances rank higher. Data status: 50 official_value rows, 0 calculated_value rows, 0 official_forecast rows, and 0 modeled_projection rows.
The table is a compiled research dataset based on 5 sources, with one official New York Fed workbook providing the ranked values, New York Fed documentation providing methodology, Census Bureau data providing region classifications, and a secondary state-level presentation used only as a cross-check.
Highest year-end 2025 credit card debt balance per capita among the 50 states.
Lowest confirmed value in the 50-state ranking.
District of Columbia and U.S. territories are outside this state-only ranking.
Calculated directly from $5,250 minus $3,030.
Year-end observations from the New York Fed annual state series.
No calculated ranking values, forecasts, or modeled projections.
What Credit Card Debt per Capita Measures
The New York Fed metric measures outstanding credit card debt per person in the credit-report population represented by its Consumer Credit Panel. It differs from average credit card debt per borrower, average balance per open card, household credit card debt, or total credit card debt in a state.
Seven states reached at least $5,000 per capita at year-end 2025: Alaska, Hawaii, New Jersey, Maryland, Nevada, Florida, and California. Connecticut, Colorado, and New York complete the Top 10.
Denominator: New York Fed documentation states that per-capita figures apply to the population of individuals who have a credit report. The values should not be interpreted as credit card debt divided by every resident or as average debt only among cardholders.
Top 10 States by Credit Card Debt per Capita
Alaska leads at $5,250, only $30 above Hawaii. New Jersey ranks third at $5,160. All seven states from rank 1 through rank 7 have balances of at least $5,000 per capita.
Top 10 U.S. states by year-end 2025 credit card debt per capita
| Rank | State | Value | Source / Method Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $5,250 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · West · source value: 5.25 in $000s. |
| 2 | Hawaii | $5,220 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · West · source value: 5.22 in $000s. |
| 3 | New Jersey | $5,160 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Northeast · source value: 5.16 in $000s. |
| 4 | Maryland | $5,090 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · South · source value: 5.09 in $000s. |
| 5 | Nevada | $5,060 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · West · source value: 5.06 in $000s. |
| 6 | Florida | $5,050 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · South · source value: 5.05 in $000s. |
| 7 | California | $5,000 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · West · source value: 5.00 in $000s. |
| 8 | Connecticut | $4,960 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Northeast · source value: 4.96 in $000s. |
| 9 | Colorado | $4,910 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · West · source value: 4.91 in $000s. |
| 10 | New York | $4,820 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Northeast · source value: 4.82 in $000s. |
The official workbook reports the source measure in thousands of dollars. Dollar labels are direct unit conversions: 5.25 thousand dollars = $5,250. Ranking uses the underlying published value.
Chart: 20 Highest State Entries
The chart uses the same year-end 2025 dollar values as the ranking table. Alaska is the reference at $5,250.
Methodology
The ranking uses the Federal Reserve Bank of New York State-Level Household Debt Statistics workbook. Its data layout identifies the credit-card field as total credit card debt per capita and states that annual observations are year-end snapshots.
Metric and unit
Metric: credit card debt balance per capita. The source workbook reports values in thousands of dollars; this page displays the equivalent U.S. dollar amount. Higher values rank higher.
Source year and target year
Source year: 2025. Target year: 2025. The observations come from the 2025 annual state series and represent the year-end snapshot.
Population basis
New York Fed documentation states that per-capita figures are computed over its sample and apply to the population of individuals who have a credit report.
Coverage
All 50 states are included. Washington, D.C. is excluded because it is a federal district, and U.S. territories are outside the state-only ranking.
Ranking and ties
States are sorted by raw published value in descending order. Equal published values receive the same competition rank, and the following rank skips the occupied position.
Unit conversion
The source unit is thousands of dollars. The conversion used for display is source value × 1,000. Example: 5.25 × 1,000 = $5,250. This is a unit conversion, not an estimate or forecast.
Sources and conflicts
The New York Fed workbook is the numeric authority. Secondary material is used only for cross-checking. Conflicting values are not averaged.
What the metric does not measure
It does not measure delinquency, card utilization, interest rates, minimum payments, household income, debt-service burden, or ability to repay.
All 50 ranking rows are classified as official_value because the underlying state observations are directly published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. No ranking value is a forecast or modeled projection.
Main Ranking: All 50 States
Search by state, filter by Census region or data status, change the sort order, or limit the display to the first 10 or 20 entries.
Year-end 2025 credit card debt balance per capita
| Rank | State | Value | Source / Method Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $5,250 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · West · source value: 5.25 in $000s. |
| 2 | Hawaii | $5,220 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · West · source value: 5.22 in $000s. |
| 3 | New Jersey | $5,160 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Northeast · source value: 5.16 in $000s. |
| 4 | Maryland | $5,090 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · South · source value: 5.09 in $000s. |
| 5 | Nevada | $5,060 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · West · source value: 5.06 in $000s. |
| 6 | Florida | $5,050 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · South · source value: 5.05 in $000s. |
| 7 | California | $5,000 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · West · source value: 5.00 in $000s. |
| 8 | Connecticut | $4,960 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Northeast · source value: 4.96 in $000s. |
| 9 | Colorado | $4,910 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · West · source value: 4.91 in $000s. |
| 10 | New York | $4,820 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Northeast · source value: 4.82 in $000s. |
| 11 | Virginia | $4,770 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · South · source value: 4.77 in $000s. |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $4,650 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Northeast · source value: 4.65 in $000s. |
| 13 | Washington | $4,640 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · West · source value: 4.64 in $000s. |
| 14 | Texas | $4,620 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · South · source value: 4.62 in $000s. |
| 15 | Georgia | $4,610 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · South · source value: 4.61 in $000s. |
| 16 | Arizona | $4,530 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · West · source value: 4.53 in $000s. |
| 17 | Delaware | $4,520 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · South · source value: 4.52 in $000s. |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $4,500 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Northeast · source value: 4.50 in $000s. |
| 19 | Rhode Island | $4,490 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Northeast · source value: 4.49 in $000s. |
| =20 | Illinois | $4,260 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Midwest · source value: 4.26 in $000s · tied rank. |
| =20 | Utah | $4,260 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · West · source value: 4.26 in $000s · tied rank. |
| 22 | North Carolina | $4,160 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · South · source value: 4.16 in $000s. |
| 23 | South Carolina | $4,090 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · South · source value: 4.09 in $000s. |
| 24 | Oregon | $4,030 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · West · source value: 4.03 in $000s. |
| =25 | Minnesota | $3,990 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Midwest · source value: 3.99 in $000s · tied rank. |
| =25 | Wyoming | $3,990 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · West · source value: 3.99 in $000s · tied rank. |
| 27 | North Dakota | $3,970 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Midwest · source value: 3.97 in $000s. |
| 28 | Pennsylvania | $3,950 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Northeast · source value: 3.95 in $000s. |
| 29 | Idaho | $3,870 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · West · source value: 3.87 in $000s. |
| 30 | Montana | $3,850 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · West · source value: 3.85 in $000s. |
| 31 | Vermont | $3,790 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Northeast · source value: 3.79 in $000s. |
| 32 | Maine | $3,760 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Northeast · source value: 3.76 in $000s. |
| 33 | Tennessee | $3,710 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · South · source value: 3.71 in $000s. |
| =34 | Kansas | $3,670 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Midwest · source value: 3.67 in $000s · tied rank. |
| =34 | Michigan | $3,670 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Midwest · source value: 3.67 in $000s · tied rank. |
| 36 | Nebraska | $3,650 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Midwest · source value: 3.65 in $000s. |
| 37 | Louisiana | $3,610 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · South · source value: 3.61 in $000s. |
| 38 | Ohio | $3,560 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Midwest · source value: 3.56 in $000s. |
| 39 | Missouri | $3,550 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Midwest · source value: 3.55 in $000s. |
| 40 | South Dakota | $3,530 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Midwest · source value: 3.53 in $000s. |
| 41 | New Mexico | $3,520 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · West · source value: 3.52 in $000s. |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $3,460 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · South · source value: 3.46 in $000s. |
| 43 | Indiana | $3,410 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Midwest · source value: 3.41 in $000s. |
| =44 | Alabama | $3,400 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · South · source value: 3.40 in $000s · tied rank. |
| =44 | Wisconsin | $3,400 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Midwest · source value: 3.40 in $000s · tied rank. |
| 46 | Arkansas | $3,310 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · South · source value: 3.31 in $000s. |
| 47 | Iowa | $3,250 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · Midwest · source value: 3.25 in $000s. |
| 48 | West Virginia | $3,180 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · South · source value: 3.18 in $000s. |
| 49 | Kentucky | $3,140 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · South · source value: 3.14 in $000s. |
| 50 | Mississippi | $3,030 | official_value · NY Fed CCP/Equifax workbook · source year: 2025 · target year: 2025 · South · source value: 3.03 in $000s. |
Ties use competition ranking: Illinois and Utah share rank 20; Minnesota and Wyoming share rank 25; Kansas and Michigan share rank 34; Alabama and Wisconsin share rank 44. The next rank skips the occupied position.
Insights From the 2025 State Data
Key Insight
Alaska leads at $5,250, while Mississippi is lowest at $3,030. The observed difference is $2,220 per capita.
Notable Pattern
Seven states have year-end credit card balances of at least $5,000 per capita. Connecticut, at $4,960, is the first state below that threshold.
Regional/Source Concentration
The Top 10 contains five Western states, three Northeastern states, two Southern states, and no Midwestern state. All ranked balance values come from the same official New York Fed series.
Outlier
There is no isolated leader at the top at the source's published precision: Alaska is only $30 above Hawaii, and the five highest states are separated by $190.
What the Ranking Means
A higher rank means a higher outstanding credit card balance per person in the credit-report population. It does not by itself indicate greater financial distress because the metric does not incorporate income, delinquency, interest rates, utilization, credit limits, or repayment capacity.
The ranking is therefore a geographic comparison of balances measured with one consistent national credit-report dataset. Separate measures are needed to compare affordability, delinquency, bankruptcy, income, or broader household financial conditions.
Related StatRanker Rankings
FAQ
Which state has the highest credit card debt per capita?
Alaska ranks first among the 50 states at $5,250 per capita at year-end 2025.
Which state has the lowest credit card debt per capita?
Mississippi has the lowest confirmed state value at $3,030 per capita.
Are these 2026 credit card debt values?
No. This is a 2026 snapshot using the latest confirmed 2025 annual state series. The observations represent year-end 2025.
What does per capita mean in the New York Fed dataset?
New York Fed documentation states that per-capita figures apply to the population of individuals who have a credit report.
Is this average credit card debt among cardholders?
No. Average balance among cardholders is a different metric. This ranking uses credit card debt balance per capita across the credit-report population.
Are these official published values?
Yes. The underlying observations are directly published in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York State-Level Household Debt Statistics workbook. The source reports the measure in thousands of dollars, and this page displays the equivalent amount in dollars.
Why do some states share the same rank?
States with the same published raw value receive the same competition rank. Illinois and Utah, for example, both have $4,260 and share rank 20.
Does a higher balance mean more financial distress?
No. The ranking does not include delinquency, income, interest cost, utilization, or repayment capacity, so it should not be used alone as a financial-distress ranking.
Sources
Federal Reserve Bank of New York — State-Level Household Debt Statistics
Primary official numeric source for all ranked observations. Used for entity values, source year, target year, metric definition, source unit, and year-end period.
Federal Reserve Bank of New York — Center for Microeconomic Data Bank
Confirms the State-Level Household Debt Statistics dataset and the Credit Card Debt Balance per Capita series.
Federal Reserve Bank of New York — Household Debt and Credit, 2025 Q4
Official methodological source for the Consumer Credit Panel/Equifax dataset and the credit-report-population basis of per-capita statistics.
https://www.newyorkfed.org/medialibrary/interactives/householdcredit/data/pdf/HHDC_2025Q4.pdf
U.S. Census Bureau — Census Regions and Divisions
Official source used only to assign states to Northeast, Midwest, South, and West for filtering and descriptive analysis.
https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/guidance-geographies/levels.html
Education Data Initiative — Student Loan Debt vs Other Debts
Secondary readable state-level presentation used only to cross-check the 2025 credit card debt-per-capita transcription.
