If used correctly, credit cards can help you to spread out expenses month by month, earn rewards on day-to-day spending and improve your credit score. However, some people are reluctant to use their cards for fear of getting into debt. We’ve collated the latest statistics on credit card ownership and spending in the UK.
As of January 2025, there are 58.8 million credit cards in the UK, up from 58.5 million in January 2024 but down from 62.8 million in January 2021.
People spent £20.8 billion on UK credit cards in January 2025, up from a total spend of around £20.4 billion in January 2025 and almost the double the amount spent in January 2021 which was £10.7 billion.
Month |
Number of credit cards |
Number of debit cards |
|---|---|---|
January 2025 |
58,841,000 |
104,448,000 |
January 2024 |
58,462,000 |
101,678,000 |
January 2023 |
58,648,000 |
100,074,700 |
January 2022 |
59,895,000 |
96,825,000 |
January 2021 |
62,778,000 |
92,210,000 |
An estimated 36.2 million people, or 68% of UK adults, have at least one credit card in 2023, according to our 2023 survey. On average, UK residents have around 1.7 credit cards per person.
The average monthly spend on a credit card is £353, as of January 2025. This has almost doubled since January 2021, when the average monthly spend on a credit card was just £171.
Month |
Average monthly credit card spend |
|---|---|
January 2025 |
£353 |
January 2024 |
£349 |
January 2023 |
£321 |
January 2022 |
£270 |
January 2021 |
£171 |
Approximately 12.2 million credit card transactions happen on UK cards per day, including UK holders and overseas, but the number of credit card transactions varies month-on-month. This year, it peaked in December 2024, with around 13.5 million credit card transactions per day – likely higher due to Christmas spending!
Month |
Number of daily credit card transactions |
|---|---|
Jan 2025 |
11.2 million |
Dec 2024 |
13.5 million |
Nov 2024 |
12.7 million |
Oct 2024 |
12.4 million |
Sep 2024 |
12.8 million |
Aug 2024 |
12.4 million |
Jul 2024 |
13.1 million |
Jun 2024 |
11.9 million |
May 2024 |
12.3 million |
Apr 2024 |
12.5 million |
Mar 2024 |
11.2 million |
Feb 2024 |
11.8 million |
Jan 2024 |
11.2 million |
The average credit card purchase value is estimated to be £60 as of January 2025. Not all credit card expenditure comes from purchases, with some expenditure on cash advances and balance transfers.
While the overall value of transactions on credit cards has increased, so has the number of transactions, leading to just a slight increase in the average purchase value, from £55 in January 2021 to £60 in January 2025.
On average, people in the UK have 1.7 credit cards. However, the numbers vary drastically from person to person. According to external research, more than a quarter of Brits (26%) have 3 to 4 cards. Some Brits don’t have a credit card at all!
According to our 2023 survey, 25-34 year-olds are most likely to have a credit card, with three-quarters (75%) of this age group owning one. They are closely followed by 18-24 year-olds, where 74% own a credit card.
Interestingly, those who are aged 45-54 are least likely to have a credit card, as less than two-thirds of this age group (63%) own one.
Those who are younger tend to have a less developed credit history, so more young people may be acquiring credit cards so that they can build their credit score.
Men are more likely to have a credit card than women, with around 7 in 10 men (71%) owning one compared to 65% of women.
Matt Mckenna
UK Head of Communications
T: +44 20 8191 8806
The results of our 2025 Finder Credit Card Customers Satisfaction Awards are in! Find out the winner and most recommended providers.
Pick a card with 0% foreign fees and save big. We’ve rated 20+ cards for spending abroad and listed our top 5.
We look at the average APR on credit cards in the UK and how credit card interest rates have changed over time.
Find out how to spread your purchases over 3, 6 or 12 months with Monzo Flex.
We reveal the winners and runners-up in our 2020 Customer Satisfaction Awards.
Get all the details on how we rate the credit cards we review. We look at costs, fees, features and how well a card performs compared to the rest of the market.
This invitation-only credit card makes a solid option if you’re trying to improve your credit score. Here’s how it works.
Where do UK residents go on holiday and how many overseas visits do we take? We look at the latest outbound tourism statistics.
Buy now and pay interest later with a 0% purchase credit card. Compare current offers with 0% p.a. on purchases.