There were about 572 million credit card accounts in the U.S. as of 2022, and 84% of adults had at least one credit card in their wallet. Altogether, this resulted in more than 1 billion credit cards in circulation in the U.S.
The number of credit cards in circulation and the number of people using them are crucial metrics when it comes to understanding both the payments landscape and consumer preferences. These figures speak to the overall availability of credit as well as the popularity of credit as a spending vehicle. Furthermore, credit card statistics like these indicate whether most consumers are using a single credit card for all expenses or a few cards targeted to different types of transactions.
Number of Credit Cards
- There were a total of 1.12 billion credit cards in 2018 and the projection for 2023 is more than 1.25 billion.
- The number of credit cards from the four primary credit card networks (VISA, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover) was 679 million in 2018.
Total Number of Credit Cards
Number of Credit Cards by Card Type
Number of Credit Card Accounts
The number of credit card accounts is on the rise, even after a slight decline during the pandemic. The total number of credit card accounts now surpasses pre-pandemic levels, reaching the highest level in 20+ years.
Total Number of Credit Card Accounts
Year | Number of Credit Card Accounts Q1 | Number of Credit Card Accounts Q2 | Number of Credit Card Accounts Q3 | Number of Credit Card Accounts Q4 |
2023 | 572.87 | 578.35 | 589.63 | 594.75 |
2022 | 537.11 | 549.87 | 555.36 | 564.5 |
2021 | 505.67 | 511.61 | 519.96 | 531.54 |
2020 | 511.41 | 504.74 | 505.54 | 505.62 |
2019 | 482.7 | 486.5 | 488.92 | 507.94 |
2018 | 466.88 | 469.64 | 474.24 | 479.23 |
2017 | 454.58 | 459.31 | 465.97 | 468.76 |
2016 | 435.61 | 440.98 | 445.04 | 453.07 |
2015 | 415.77 | 421.82 | 426.63 | 424.35 |
2014 | 401.54 | 405.89 | 410.54 | 412.99 |
2013 | 383.08 | 388.87 | 391.24 | 399.01 |
2012 | 386 | 383 | 382 | 383 |
2011 | 385.86 | 389.17 | 383.27 | 386.2 |
2010 | 385.86 | 380.54 | 377.9 | 380.07 |
2009 | 434.25 | 412.38 | 401.77 | 394.27 |
2008 | 474.57 | 496.12 | 492.19 | 472.17 |
2007 | 444.88 | 474.74 | 478.86 | 481.44 |
2006 | 458.41 | 460.35 | 454.64 | 451.28 |
2005 | 451.95 | 450.14 | 452.34 | 455.91 |
2004 | 449.62 | 458.26 | 447.07 | 448.43 |
2003 | 469.81 | 468.94 | 457.64 | 452.71 |
2002 | 466.88 | 477.83 | 474.13 | 478.8 |
2001 | 419.78 | 447.93 | 437.47 | 467.48 |
2000 | 384.68 | 394.51 | 386.7 | 414.02 |
1999 | 365.16 | 364.67 | 373.45 | 371.65 |
Number of Cardholders
The number of cardholders in 2018 was 182 million, a growth of about 16.5% compared to 7 years ago, in 2011. By 2023, this number is predicted to grow nearly 6%, to 193 million.
Total Number of Cardholders
Number of Cardholders by Card Type
Number of Credit Cards per Cardholder
In 2021, 8 in 10 adults in the U.S. (84%) reported that they had at least one credit card, and 73% of those adults carried a balance.
Consumer credit equaled 22% of household debt at the end of 2021, down from 23.14 % the prior year. Consumer credit per household was $25,112. Credit card debt was 5.50% of total debt in 2021, down from 5.63% the prior year.
Info | 2021 | 2020 | Change 2021 vs. 2020 |
---|---|---|---|
Average Number of Credit Cards | 3.00 | 3.00 | 0.00% |
Average Credit Card Balances | $5,525 | $5,897 | -6.31% |
Average Credit Card Balance per Capita | $3,060 | $2,970 | 3.03% |
Average Number of Retail Credit Cards | 2.33 | 2.42 | -3.72% |
Average Retail Credit Card Balances | $1,887 | $2,044 | -7.68% |
Average Nonmortgage Debt | $25,112 | $25,483 | -1.46% |
Average Mortgage Debt | $229,242 | $215,655 | 6.30% |
Average Number of Credit Cards by Age
Average Number of Credit Cards by State
Number of New Credit Card Inquires
As of Q4 2024, inquires for new credit cards had dropped to around 53% of their count in 2015.
New Credit Card Inquiries
Credit Card Ownership
Credit Card Ownership by Income Level
Annual Income | Share of Adults with a Credit Card |
---|---|
Less than $25,000 | 57% |
$25,000 to $49,999 | 83% |
$50,000 to $99,000 | 94% |
$100,000 or more | 98% |
Credit Card Ownership by Race/Ethnicity
Race/Ethnicity | Share of Adults with a Credit Card |
---|---|
White | 87% |
Black | 71% |
Hispanic | 73% |
Asian | 92% |
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