Overview
- Creditreform’s 2025 Schuldneratlas reports 5.67 million over‑indebted adults, up 111,000 year on year, lifting the rate to 8.16 percent.
- Both juridical “hard” cases and ongoing “soft” payment problems increased, roughly plus 39,000 and plus 72,000 respectively.
- Schufa logged 13 percent more payment disruptions through the first three quarters, with high arrears tied to Buy‑Now‑Pay‑Later.
- Regional gaps persist, with Bremerhaven and Bremen showing the highest shares while Bavaria records the lowest.
- Policy steps move quickly, with mandatory credit checks for BNPL and small loans from November 20 and a Bundestag‑approved law to secure access to professional debt counselling.