About a quarter of Americans can’t fully pay their bills each month
% saying they ___ in a typical month
* Estimates for Asian adults are representative of English speakers only.
Note: Wording included “cannot pay some bills or can only make a partial payment on some of them” in a typical month. Shares of respondents who didn’t offer an answer are not shown. White, Black and Asian adults include those who report being only one race and are not Hispanic. Hispanics are of any race. Family income tiers are based on adjusted 2025 earnings. “Some college” includes those with an associate degree and those who attended college but did not obtain a degree.
Note: Wording included “cannot pay some bills or can only make a partial payment on some of them” in a typical month. Shares of respondents who didn’t offer an answer are not shown. White, Black and Asian adults include those who report being only one race and are not Hispanic. Hispanics are of any race. Family income tiers are based on adjusted 2025 earnings. “Some college” includes those with an associate degree and those who attended college but did not obtain a degree.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted July 20-Aug. 9, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
About a quarter of Americans can’t fully pay their bills each month
% saying they ___ in a typical month
| Cannot pay some of their bills | Can pay all of their bills in full | Grouping | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All adults | 27 | 72 | All |
| Men | 22 | 78 | Gender |
| Women | 32 | 67 | Gender |
| Ages 18-29 | 30 | 69 | Age |
| 30-49 | 31 | 69 | Age |
| 50-64 | 28 | 71 | Age |
| 65+ | 19 | 80 | Age |
| White | 20 | 79 | Race |
| Hispanic | 37 | 62 | Race |
| Black | 47 | 53 | Race |
| Asian* | 21 | 78 | Race |
| Lower income | 49 | 51 | Income |
| Middle income | 22 | 78 | Income |
| Upper income | 7 | 93 | Income |
| High school or less | 38 | 61 | Education |
| Some college | 29 | 70 | Education |
| Bachelor’s+ | 14 | 85 | Education |
| Rep/Lean Rep | 22 | 78 | Party |
| Dem/Lean Dem | 31 | 69 | Party |
* Estimates for Asian adults are representative of English speakers only.
Note: Wording included “cannot pay some bills or can only make a partial payment on some of them” in a typical month. Shares of respondents who didn’t offer an answer are not shown. White, Black and Asian adults include those who report being only one race and are not Hispanic. Hispanics are of any race. Family income tiers are based on adjusted 2025 earnings. “Some college” includes those with an associate degree and those who attended college but did not obtain a degree.
Note: Wording included “cannot pay some bills or can only make a partial payment on some of them” in a typical month. Shares of respondents who didn’t offer an answer are not shown. White, Black and Asian adults include those who report being only one race and are not Hispanic. Hispanics are of any race. Family income tiers are based on adjusted 2025 earnings. “Some college” includes those with an associate degree and those who attended college but did not obtain a degree.
Source: Survey of U.S. adults conducted July 20-Aug. 9, 2026.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
