Household debt figures for the South East, from the ONS.
23%
Borrowing more than usual 2026
In the period 1 July to 27 September 2026, 23% of adults in the South East reported having had to borrow more money or use more credit than usual in the last month, compared with a year earlier.
Source: Public opinions and social trends, Great Britain: household finances by personal characteristics, 1 July to 27 September 2026, Office for National Statistics, Q3 2026
Opinions and Lifestyle Survey fieldwork 1 July to 27 September 2026 (13 weeks, published 16 October 2026). Adults aged 16 and over, Great Britain. Table question: Have you had to borrow more money or use more credit than usual in the last month, compared to a year ago? [note 1][note 2][note 3][note 4][note 5][note 6][note 7][note 8][note 9][note 10] Sample size 1770; 95% confidence interval 19 to 26 percent.
21%
Borrowing more than usual 2025
In the period 2 July to 28 September 2025, 21% of adults in the South East reported having had to borrow more money or use more credit than usual in the last month, compared with a year earlier.
Source: Public opinions and social trends, Great Britain: household finances by personal characteristics, 2 July to 28 September 2025, Office for National Statistics, Q3 2025
Opinions and Lifestyle Survey fieldwork 2 July to 28 September 2025 (13 weeks, published 17 October 2025). Adults aged 16 and over, Great Britain. Table question: Have you had to borrow more money or use more credit than usual in the last month, compared to a year ago? [note 1][note 2][note 3][note 4][note 5][note 6][note 7][note 8][note 9][note 10][note 11] Sample size 1820; 95% confidence interval 18 to 24 percent.
24%
Unaffordable £850 expense Q3 2026
In the period 1 July to 27 September 2026, 24% of adults in the South East reported that their household could not afford an unexpected but necessary expense of £850.
Source: Public opinions and social trends, Great Britain: household finances by personal characteristics, 1 July to 27 September 2026, Office for National Statistics, Q3 2026
Opinions and Lifestyle Survey fieldwork 1 July to 27 September 2026 (13 weeks, published 16 October 2026). Adults aged 16 and over, Great Britain. Table question: Could your household afford to pay an unexpected, but necessary, expense of £850? [note 1][note 2][note 3][note 4][note 5][note 6][note 7][note 8][note 9] Sample size 1770; 95% confidence interval 21 to 28 percent.
19%
Unaffordable £850 expense Q3 2025
In the period 2 July to 28 September 2025, 19% of adults in the South East reported that their household could not afford an unexpected but necessary expense of £850.
Source: Public opinions and social trends, Great Britain: household finances by personal characteristics, 2 July to 28 September 2025, Office for National Statistics, Q3 2025
Opinions and Lifestyle Survey fieldwork 2 July to 28 September 2025 (13 weeks, published 17 October 2025). Adults aged 16 and over, Great Britain. Table question: Could your household afford to pay an unexpected, but necessary, expense of £850? [note 1][note 2][note 3][note 4][note 5][note 6][note 7][note 8][note 9] Sample size 1820; 95% confidence interval 16 to 23 percent.
6%
Unpaid bill Q3 2026
In the period 1 July to 27 September 2026, 6% of adults in the South East reported having a direct debit, standing order or bill they had not been able to pay in the past month.
Source: Public opinions and social trends, Great Britain: household finances by personal characteristics, 1 July to 27 September 2026, Office for National Statistics, Q3 2026
Opinions and Lifestyle Survey fieldwork 1 July to 27 September 2026 (13 weeks, published 16 October 2026). Adults aged 16 and over, Great Britain. Table question: Have you had a direct debit, standing order, or bill you have not been able to pay in the past month? [note 1][note 2][note 3][note 4][note 5][note 6][note 7][note 8][note 9] Sample size 1770; 95% confidence interval 4 to 8 percent.
5%
Unpaid bill Q3 2025
In the period 2 July to 28 September 2025, 5% of adults in the South East reported having a direct debit, standing order or bill they had not been able to pay in the past month.
Source: Public opinions and social trends, Great Britain: household finances by personal characteristics, 2 July to 28 September 2025, Office for National Statistics, Q3 2025
Opinions and Lifestyle Survey fieldwork 2 July to 28 September 2025 (13 weeks, published 17 October 2025). Adults aged 16 and over, Great Britain. Table question: Have you had a direct debit, standing order, or bill you have not been able to pay in the past month? [note 1][note 2][note 3][note 4][note 5][note 6][note 7][note 8][note 9] Sample size 1820; 95% confidence interval 3 to 7 percent.
49%
Households with financial debt 2020/22
49% of households in the South East had financial debt in April 2020 to March 2022.
Source: Household debt: wealth in Great Britain, Table 7.5, Office for National Statistics, 2020 to 2022
Share of all households in the region. Wealth and Assets Survey round covering April 2020 to March 2022 (two survey years).
46%
Households with financial debt 2018/20
46% of households in the South East had financial debt in April 2018 to March 2020.
Source: Household debt: wealth in Great Britain, Table 7.5, Office for National Statistics, 2018 to 2020
Share of all households in the region. Wealth and Assets Survey round covering April 2018 to March 2020 (two survey years).
3%
Households with problem debt 2020/22
3% of households in the South East had problem debt in April 2020 to March 2022.
Source: Household debt: wealth in Great Britain, Table 7.16, Office for National Statistics, 2020 to 2022
Problem debt is defined by the publisher as having liquidity problems, solvency problems or both. Estimates based on fewer than 30 unweighted cases are suppressed by the publisher.
4%
Households with problem debt 2018/20
4% of households in the South East had problem debt in April 2018 to March 2020.
Source: Household debt: wealth in Great Britain, Table 7.16, Office for National Statistics, 2018 to 2020
Problem debt is defined by the publisher as having liquidity problems, solvency problems or both. Estimates based on fewer than 30 unweighted cases are suppressed by the publisher.
9%
Financial debt a heavy burden
9% of individuals with financial debt in the South East found their financial debts a heavy burden in April 2020 to March 2022.
Source: Household debt: wealth in Great Britain, Table 7.9, Office for National Statistics, 2020 to 2022
Self-reported burden, individuals aged 16 and over not in full-time education.
£4,300
Median household financial debt
The median financial debt of households in the South East with financial debt was £4,300 in April 2020 to March 2022.
Source: Household debt: wealth in Great Britain, Table 7.5, Office for National Statistics, 2020 to 2022
Median among households with financial debt. Nominal terms.