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A snapshot of UK personal debt statistics in 2021

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Statistics Yearbook 2021

Our latest annual Statistics Yearbook provides insight into the debt and demographic situations of new debt advice clients between January and December 2021.

Our latest annual Statistics Yearbook provides insight into the debt and demographic situations of new debt advice clients between January and December 2021.

The report also finds among new clients in 2021:

Number 1

Many clients were behind on energy bills

Many clients were struggling to keep up with energy bills. The proportion of clients behind on energy bills remains substantially higher than before the pandemic

Proportion of new clients behind on their gas and electricity bills over the last 3 years

Additionally, the average electricity arrears debt per client increased by £150 between 2020 and 2021. The average gas arrears debt increased by £78.

Number 2

A higher proportion of clients have children

The proportion of clients with children has increased from 42% in 2020 to 45% in 2021. This includes rises in proportion of couples with children (21%) and single parents (24%) compared to the previous year.

45% of our new clients have children
Number 2

Credit cards and council tax are the most common types of unsecured debt and household arrears

Continuing trends in previous years, credit cards remained as the most common unsecured debt type, held by two thirds of all new clients. Council tax was the most common arrears type among new clients

66% of new clients had a credit card debt, 37% of new clients were behind with their council tax bill

Number 2

An increased proportion of clients are in vulnerable situations

In 2021, 56% of all new clients were in a vulnerable situation at the time of advice. This has increased over recent years. This increase is partly due to changes in the charity’s debt advice system and additional training for advisors, which means additional vulnerabilities can be better identified.

56% of new clients were in a vulnerable situation, 39% of new clients had a mental health condition

Want more information?

Email us to discuss our 2021 personal debt statistics and other debt research across the UK.

policy@stepchange.org