7.36 million adults in Germany are overindebted; sharp rise among under‑30s

Overindebtedness in Germany has risen to 7.36 million adults, with the most pronounced increase recorded among people under 30, according to a new debt atlas compiled by the credit‑information agency Creditreform. The report uses data with a reference date of 1 October 2026 and shows a year‑on‑year rise of 293,000 cases, an increase of just over four percent.

Economic pressures and changing calculation methods

Patrick‑Ludwig Hanch, head of economic research at Creditreform, warned that households are under growing strain. He said, "The financial situation of private consumers has further deteriorated." The report points to sharply higher living, energy and housing costs and a weakening labour market as key drivers of the trend.

Creditreform defines an overindebted person as someone who is unable to meet their financial obligations over an extended period. The agency also notes that a change in the calculation method means the current figures cannot be directly compared with older series; values for 2025 were recalculated retroactively using a mathematical‑statistical procedure to allow comparison.

Young adults under 30 showed a notably strong rise in overindebtedness: their numbers climbed by 5.8 percent to 1.17 million. Overall, people aged 30 to 49 remain the largest affected group. The study lists illness, addiction, accidents and unemployment among the most common causes of households falling into long‑term debt.

At regional level, Bremen has the highest share of overindebted adults at 15.89 percent, followed by North Rhine‑Westphalia (13.19 percent) and Saxony‑Anhalt (13.08 percent). The lowest rates were recorded in Bavaria (7.58 percent), Baden‑Württemberg (8.73 percent) and Brandenburg (9.15 percent). Every federal state saw its rate rise.

The report highlights stark local differences: the lowest district rates were in Eichstätt (4.75 percent) and Erlangen‑Höchstadt (4.99 percent), while the highest were in Gelsenkirchen (25.43 percent) and Bremerhaven (23.67 percent). Nationwide, the overindebtedness rate increased by 0.42 percentage points to 10.58 percent.

Photo: press material from the event