Brazil’s default rate reached a record high at the end of 2025, with 73.5 million people overdue on their debts, equivalent to around 44% of the country’s adult population, according to data released by Serasa Experian and reported by Diário do Comércio.

The increase was driven mainly by long-standing debts, with a significant share of unpaid obligations overdue for four to five years. Traditionally, December brings some financial relief due to the payment of the thirteenth-month salary, but this was insufficient to reverse the upward trend in defaults.

High levels of delinquency are weighing on both households and businesses. Consumers face restricted access to credit, while retailers report slower cash flow and greater uncertainty when planning investments for the year ahead.

Data show that individuals aged 30 to 39 account for the largest share of defaulters, with men and women affected in similar proportions. Regionally, the South of Brazil recorded the sharpest annual increase in defaults, followed by the North, Northeast, Southeast and Centre-West.

In addition to the growing number of people in arrears, the average amount owed and the number of debts per consumer also rose compared with the previous year, reinforcing concerns about the resilience of household finances in the months ahead.

Fonte: Diário do Comércio | Author: Mara Bianchetti
Edition and translation: Prime Yield