Formal Borrowing Statistics in United States (2026)
In 2021, 66.2% of adults in the United States borrowed from a formal financial institution, according to World Bank Global Findex data. Down from 68.4% in 2017 to 66.2% in 2021 (−2.2 percentage points). United States ranks #2 of 2 economies in North America on this measure, and #7 of 142 globally.
Key Statistics
- Latest value (2021)
- 66.2% (2021)
- Formal Borrowing in the United States as of 2021, the most recent observation in World Bank Global Findex data.
- Change since 2017
- −2.2 pp (2021)
- Down from 68.4% in 2017 to 66.2% in 2021 (−2.2 percentage points).
- Earliest value in this dataset (2014)
- 64.6% (2014)
- Earliest observation in this dataset, which covers 1990 onward (the source series may begin earlier). Up from 64.6% in 2014 to 66.2% in 2021.
- Peak value (2017)
- 68.4% (2017)
- Highest value in the available series; the 2021 value is 66.2%.
- Rank in North America
- #2 of 2 (2021)
- The United States ranks 2 of 2 countries in North America with data, based on each country's latest value.
- Global rank
- #7 of 142 (2021)
- The United States ranks 7 of 142 countries with data globally.
- North America average
- 73.6% (2021)
- The United States (66.2%) is below the average of 73.6% across the 2 countries in North America with data.
- Among women (2021)
- 66.6% (2021)
- Value for women in the United States, same 2021 World Bank Global Findex data.
- Among men (2021)
- 65.7% (2021)
- Value for men in the United States, same 2021 World Bank Global Findex data.
- Gender gap (women minus men)
- +0.9 pp (2021)
- In 2021, the figure was 66.6% for women and 65.7% for men — 0.9 percentage points higher among women.
- Among the poorest 40% (2021)
- 44.5% (2021)
- Value for adults in the poorest 40% of households in the United States in 2021.
- Poorest-40% gap vs national
- −21.7 pp (2021)
- The poorest 40% (44.5%) are 21.7 percentage points below the national figure (66.2%).
- Internet use in the United States (2024)
- 94.7% (2024)
- 94.7% of the population in the United States used the internet in 2024 (World Bank); shown for context only.
- Population (2024)
- 340.1 million (2024)
- The United States had a population of 340.1 million in 2024 (World Bank); shown for scale only.
Trend, 2014–2021
| Year | % of adults (age 15+) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 66.2% | −2.2 pp |
| 2017 | 68.4% | +3.8 pp |
| 2014 | 64.6% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What share of adults in the United States borrowed from a formal financial institution?
66.2% of adults in the United States borrowed from a formal financial institution in 2021, according to World Bank Global Findex data.
How does the United States compare with other countries in North America?
The United States ranks 2 of 2 countries in North America with data, with 66.2% versus a regional average of 73.6% (latest values per country).
Where does the United States rank globally on formal borrowing?
The United States ranks 7 of 142 countries with data globally, based on the latest World Bank Global Findex value for each country.
Source & methodology
Source: World Bank Global Findex, indicator
fin22a, retrieved .
Figures are shown exactly as published in the source dataset; only the change column of the trend table is computed from adjacent published values.Read more on the methodology page. All figures are estimates and projections; this is not financial advice.
Last updated .