Lending Interest Rates Statistics in United States (2026)
According to World Bank World Development Indicators data, the average lending interest rate in the United States came to 3.3% in 2021. Down from 3.5% in 2020 to 3.3% in 2021 (−0.3 percentage points). United States ranks #1 of 1 economies in North America on this measure, and #3 of 112 globally.
Key Statistics
- Latest value (2021)
- 3.3% (2021)
- Lending Interest Rates in the United States as of 2021, the most recent observation in World Bank World Development Indicators data.
- Change since 2020
- −0.3 pp (2021)
- Down from 3.5% in 2020 to 3.3% in 2021 (−0.3 percentage points).
- Earliest value in this dataset (1990)
- 10% (1990)
- Earliest observation in this dataset, which covers 1990 onward (the source series may begin earlier). Down from 10% in 1990 to 3.3% in 2021.
- Peak value (1990)
- 10% (1990)
- Highest value in the available series; the 2021 value is 3.3%.
- Rank in North America (lower is better; rank 1 = lowest)
- #1 of 1 (2021)
- The United States ranks 1 of 1 countries in North America with data, based on each country's latest value. Ranked ascending because lower values are better for this metric.
- Global rank (lower is better; rank 1 = lowest)
- #3 of 112 (2021)
- The United States ranks 3 of 112 countries with data globally. Ranked ascending because lower values are better for this metric.
- North America average
- 3.3% (2021)
- The United States (3.3%) is above the average of 3.3% across the 1 countries in North America with data.
- Risk premium on lending (lending rate minus treasury bill rate, %) (2021)
- 3.2% (2021)
- Related indicator from World Bank World Development Indicators.
- 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, 1990–2021
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3.3% | −0.3 pp |
| 2020 | 3.5% | −1.7 pp |
| 2019 | 5.3% | +0.4 pp |
| 2018 | 4.9% | +0.8 pp |
| 2017 | 4.1% | +0.6 pp |
| 2016 | 3.5% | +0.3 pp |
| 2015 | 3.3% | +0.0 pp |
| 2014 | 3.3% | +0.0 pp |
| 2013 | 3.3% | +0.0 pp |
| 2012 | 3.3% | +0.0 pp |
| 2011 | 3.3% | +0.0 pp |
| 2010 | 3.3% | +0.0 pp |
| 2009 | 3.3% | −1.8 pp |
| 2008 | 5.1% | −3.0 pp |
| 2007 | 8.1% | +0.1 pp |
| 2006 | 8% | +1.8 pp |
| 2005 | 6.2% | +1.8 pp |
| 2004 | 4.3% | +0.2 pp |
| 2003 | 4.1% | −0.6 pp |
| 2002 | 4.7% | −2.2 pp |
| 2001 | 6.9% | −2.3 pp |
| 2000 | 9.2% | +1.2 pp |
| 1999 | 8% | −0.4 pp |
| 1998 | 8.4% | −0.1 pp |
| 1997 | 8.4% | +0.2 pp |
| 1996 | 8.3% | −0.6 pp |
| 1995 | 8.8% | +1.7 pp |
| 1994 | 7.1% | +1.1 pp |
| 1993 | 6% | −0.3 pp |
| 1992 | 6.3% | −2.2 pp |
| 1991 | 8.5% | −1.5 pp |
| 1990 | 10% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What is the latest figure for average lending interest rate in the United States?
The average lending interest rate in the United States stood at 3.3% in 2021, according to World Bank World Development Indicators data.
When did lending interest rates in the United States peak?
The highest value in the available series was 10% in 1990; the latest (2021) value is 3.3%.
How recent is the lending interest rates data for the United States?
The most recent observation is from 2021. World Bank World Development Indicators data is reported with a lag, so 2021 is the latest available year for the United States.
Where does the lending interest rates data for the United States come from?
The data comes from the World Bank World Development Indicators (indicator FR.INR.LEND). The latest observation for the United States is from 2021; the snapshot was retrieved on 2026-06-10.
Source & methodology
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator
FR.INR.LEND, 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 .