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  ##  Financial Literacy in America 

   [Infographic](/taxonomy/term/111)    | 17 September 2025  

 This infographic shares data about the state of financial literacy in America. [FinancialFit](/products/ebscolearning/financialfit "FinancialFit") is an interactive learning platform from EBSCO that can increase financial literacy in your library community.



  

 

 ![](https://assets.ebsco.com/asset/79746955-4917-407d-8e8a-938dd4ea4f5a/FinancialFit-Financial-Literacy-In-America-Infographic.png)

 

####  Alternative Text Format |   [  Download ](javascript:void(0))  

 ### Financial Literacy in America

 <a style="display:none; "> Ref Link: https://about.ebsco.com/markdownify/node/85278</a>## Financial Literacy in America: By the Numbers

### How do Americans fare?

#### Percentage of financially literate adults by country (Top 15)

1. Denmark – 71%
2. Norway – 71%
3. Sweden – 71%
4. Canada – 68%
5. Israel – 68%
6. United Kingdom – 67%
7. Germany – 66%
8. Netherlands – 66%
9. Australia – 64%
10. Finland – 63%
11. New Zealand – 61%
12. Singapore – 59%
13. Czech Republic – 58%
14. **United States – 57%**
15. Belgium – 55%

**Two-thirds** of Americans cannot pass a basic financial literacy test

**57%** live paycheck to paycheck

**1 in 3** Americans lack enough savings to cover a $400 emergency

**49%** of workers say their debt is interfering with their ability to save for retirement

#### Top financial obstacles for Millennials

1. Excessive expenses
2. Lack of savings
3. Too much debt

63% feel anxious about their finances

### Credit Card Debt

- 82% have at least one credit card
- Americans with more than $10,000 in credit card debt: 14 million
- 4 in 10 Americans “have no idea” how credit scores work

### Student Loan Debt

- Americans carrying student loan debt: 42.5 million
- Amount the average public university student borrows to attain a bachelor’s degree: $31,960
- Average student loan debt per borrower
    - Federal: $39,075
    - Federal + Private: $42,673

## References

Adults who would cover a $400 emergency expense using cash or its equivalent. (2025, May 28). Federal Reserve. <https://www.federalreserve.gov/consumerscommunities/sheddataviz/unexpectedexpenses.html>

Blumberg, Y. (2019, January 4). About 4 in 10 Americans ‘have no idea’ how their credit score is determined. CNBC. <https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/04/about-4-in-10-americans-have-no-idea-how-credit-scores-are-determined.html>

Empower. (2025, July 2). 1 in 4 Americans who carry credit card balances currently owe $10,000 or more in credit card debt. <https://www.empower.com/the-currency/money/credit-card-research>

Farber, M. (2016, July 12). Nearly two-thirds of Americans can’t pass a basic test of financial literacy. *Fortune*. <https://fortune.com/2016/07/12/financial-literacy/>

FINRA Investor Education Foundation. (2025). Financial Capability in the United States, 6th ed. <https://www.finrafoundation.org/sites/finrafoundation/files/2025-07/NFCS-Report-Sixth-Edition-July-2025.pdf>

Hanson, M. (2025, August 8). Student loan debt statistics. *Education Data Initiative*. <https://educationdata.org/student-loan-debt-statistics>

Haverstic, C. (2025, May 14). 57% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck in 2025. *MarketWatch.* <https://www.marketwatch.com/financial-guides/banking/paycheck-to-paycheck-statistics/>

Huggins, T. (2024, July 1). Millennials: Financially confident but very stressed. *Investopedia.* <https://www.investopedia.com/millennials-are-financially-confident-but-stressed-5224413>

Klapper, L., Lusardi, A., &amp; van Oudheusden, P. (2016). Financial literacy around the world: Insights from the Standards &amp; Poor’s ratings services global financial literacy survey. [https://gflec.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/3313-Finlit\_Report\_FINAL-5.11.16.pdf](https://gflec.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/3313-Finlit_Report_FINAL-5.11.16.pdf)

Pokora, B. (2024, March 28). Credit card statistics and trends. *Forbes Advisor*. <https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/credit-card-statistics/>

Shilling, A. (2022, December 12). Just 1 in 3 Americans understands this crucial component of planning smartly for retirement — and that lack of knowledge could prove very costly. *MarketWatch*. <https://www.marketwatch.com/picks/just-1-in-3-americans-understands-this-crucial-component-of-planning-smartly-for-retirement-and-that-lack-of-knowledge-could-prove-very-costly-01670615195>



 

  

 

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