Mississippi Leads States in Credit Card Debt Strain as Balances Use Nearly 30% of Limits

Mississippi households face the nation’s greatest credit card debt strain, with balances consuming nearly 30% of available credit, according to an October 2026 study by Achieve that ranked financial pressure across all 50 states.

The report puts Mississippi’s credit utilization rate at 29.6%, the highest nationwide. Its average card balance of $5,885 illustrates how debt can become difficult to manage even without the largest dollar amounts, as smaller credit limits and lower household incomes leave borrowers with less financial flexibility.

Louisiana ranked second, followed by Arkansas, Georgia and Alabama. Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, West Virginia and Nevada completed the 10 states facing the greatest pressure. The ranking measures the burden of credit card debt rather than simply identifying where borrowers owe the most.

According to the supplied methodology, researchers examined five factors: payment delinquencies, balances relative to income, credit utilization, minimum-payment behavior, and changes in late payments over the preceding year. The report places total U.S. credit card balances at $1.26 trillion.

Mississippi’s median household income was $59,127 in the report’s 2024 income data. Meanwhile, 7.46% of cardholders were at least 30 days behind on payments in August 2026, and 16.3% had subprime credit scores.

Credit utilization measures the portion of a borrower’s available credit represented by outstanding balances. Mississippi’s figure means average balances were equivalent to almost $30 for every $100 in average credit limits.

“Credit card balances rarely become a problem overnight,” an Achieve spokesperson said in comments accompanying the study. “They grow when everyday costs climb faster than pay, and a card quietly fills the gap, then minimum payments let interest pile on top.”

Louisiana recorded the second-highest utilization rate, at 28.3%. Its median household income was $60,986, while 6.49% of cardholders were at least 30 days overdue. Another 14.7% had subprime credit scores.

Arkansas ranked third despite an average balance of $5,933, only slightly above Mississippi’s. The report found that 17.4% of Arkansas cardholders paid no more than the minimum due each month. Its delinquency rate was 6.08%, and median household income stood at $62,106.

Georgia presented a different combination of income and borrowing. Median household income reached $79,991, but average card balances were $7,255, exceeding Mississippi’s by $1,370. Georgia’s utilization rate was 26.37%, and 6.5% of cardholders were at least 30 days behind.

Alabama rounded out the top five with utilization of 27.1%, median household income of $66,659 and a delinquency rate of 5.93%. The report also included personal bankruptcy totals for the 12 months ending June 30, 2026.

Florida recorded 46,701 filings, Texas had 37,406 and Georgia had 32,494. These are raw counts rather than population-adjusted rates, and the figures do not establish that credit cards caused the bankruptcies. Across the remaining top 10 states, utilization ranged from Florida’s 24.25% to Oklahoma’s 27.16%.

The Achieve spokesperson urged borrowers facing difficulty to seek help before missed payments accumulate. “The most effective step is to pay more than the minimum whenever possible, even by a small amount, and to tackle the card with the highest interest rate first,” the spokesperson said. “Anyone already falling behind should contact their card issuer early, as many lenders offer hardship plans.”