Credit card ownership and usage statistics

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Credit cards are a convenient tool for covering the cost of unforeseen financial emergencies and spreading out large payments over time. However, access to credit can differ from person to person. Age, income level, gender and race tend to influence the number of credit cards one holds.
Here’s a look at the state of credit card ownership in the U.S.
Key credit card statistics
- More than 80 percent of American adults had at least one credit card in 2020, according to the Federal Reserve.
- The average American has 3.84 credit cards, according to the most recent data from Experian.
- There were 365 million open credit card accounts in the U.S. as of the end of 2020, according to data released in May 2021 by the American Bankers Association.
- The average American household’s credit card balance is just over $5,300, according to Experian.
- Paying with a credit card has increased in popularity, from 24 percent of transactions in 2019 to 27 percent in 2020, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta.
Most popular type of credit cards
Americans tend to favor a wide variety of credit cards, but cash back credit cards are often the most popular option. According to Bankrate’s December 2021 credit card features survey, more than 4 in 10 (41 percent) U.S. adults listed cash back as their favorite credit card feature. This was by far the most popular answer.
The right credit card for each consumer depends on the introductory offers they can benefit from (think: zero-interest periods or points bonuses), as well as which card best suits and rewards their everyday spending needs. One consumer could see a greater benefit in having a card that rewards their gas and grocery purchases than a card that rewards travel purchases. And anyone who tends to carry a balance would benefit most from a low-interest credit card.
Average number of credit cards per person
The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta found that in 2020, 79 percent of consumers had at least one credit card or charge card, which is the highest percentage since the Fed began conducting the Survey of Consumer Payment Choice in 2008. While the number of cards in Americans’ wallets varies by generation, credit score and other factors, the average American has three credit cards and 2.3 retail store cards, according to a 2021 survey by the credit reporting agency Experian.
Average number of credit cards by state
According to the same Experian survey, New Jersey consumers have the most credit card accounts, with a total of 4.54 accounts on average. Alaska was on the other end of the spectrum, with an average of 3.06 credit card accounts.
Average number of credit cards by age
Unsurprisingly, Experian found Baby Boomers tend to have more credit cards than younger generations. In addition to longer credit histories, older consumers generally have higher credit scores than younger consumers, giving them access to a wider range of credit cards.
However, Gen Z consumers are opening new credit card accounts at a faster rate than older cardholders. Many experts attribute this shift to more Gen Zers reaching adulthood and becoming old enough to apply for a new card.
Here’s a look at the average number of cards held by each generation.
Generation | Average number of credit cards |
---|---|
Baby Boomers | 3.4 |
Generation X | 3.3 |
Gen Y | 2.7 |
Generation Z | 1.7 |
Average number of credit cards by gender
The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) prohibits credit discrimination based on various factors, including gender and sexual orientation. And on average, women have more open credit card accounts than men, according to Experian.
Gender | Average number of accounts open |
---|---|
Male | 3.6 |
Female | 4.5 |
However, one area of disparity among cardholders of different genders is credit limits. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia found men have credit limits $1,323 higher than women, on average. Experts suggested one reason for this discrepancy could be the lack of equal pay.
Average number of credit cards by race/ethnicity
While the ECOA also prohibits discrimination based on race or ethnicity, access to credit can vary widely between racial groups. While race itself doesn’t directly lower one’s score, Black and Hispanic consumers are more often impacted by financial burdens that can make it difficult for them to make on-time payments and maintain their creditworthiness. Factors like massive student loan debt, high interest rates on loans and living paycheck to paycheck are a few root causes. People of color are also more likely to be “credit invisible,” meaning to have no credit history at all.
Here’s a look at how credit card membership varies from group to group, according to the Federal Reserve.
Race/ethnicity | Share of adults with a credit card |
---|---|
White | 87% |
Hispanic | 76% |
Black | 72% |
Asian | 92% |
Other | 83% |
Average number of credit cards by income
Income plays a key role in an issuer’s decision because they tend to equate higher income with a greater likelihood that a cardholder will pay off their balance in full and that they will get their money back.
Here’s a look at the share of adults with a credit card in each income bracket, according to the Federal Reserve.
Income level | Share of adults with a credit card |
---|---|
Less than $25,000 | 56% |
$25,000 to $49,999 | 85% |
$50,000 to $99,000 | 94% |
$100,000 or more | 98% |
The bottom line
A variety of factors can directly and indirectly influence the number of credit cards one has. However, one thing is clear: Credit cards, when used responsibly, can help you meet everyday needs and establish a positive credit history that will open doors in the future.
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