Overview
- The new Creditreform Schuldneratlas reports 5.67 million over-indebted adults in 2025, up by about 111,000 year over year as the national rate edged to 8.16 percent.
- Both legally relevant cases and persistent payment disturbances increased, with roughly 39,000 more hard cases and 72,000 more soft cases than 2024.
- Regional pressure is uneven: North Rhine-Westphalia counts about 1.46 million cases and nearly 40 percent of new national cases, Bremen has the highest state rate, and Bremerhaven leads all cities.
- Increases are pronounced among under‑30s and over‑60s, yet Creditreform notes broader spread across social groups, including households with middle or higher incomes.
- Schufa indicators point to mounting stress, with 11 percent unable to pay rent or housing installments in the past six months and first‑time payment problems up 13 percent, especially among young and low‑income consumers, alongside risks from small loans and buy‑now‑pay‑later use.