Rising Household Debt in the First Quarter, with Housing Loans Ranking First

Al-Taj News – The latest data issued by the Central Bank showed an increase in total household debt, reaching 14.312 billion dinars at the end of the first quarter of the current year, compared with 14.1 billion dinars in the first quarter of 2025, and approximately 13.951 billion dinars at the end of the fourth quarter of last year.

According to the figures, housing loans continued to account for the largest share of the debt, valued at 5.754 billion dinars, with a slight increase of around 0.2% compared with the first quarter of last year, and a lower percentage compared with the end of the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, vehicle loans grew by less than 1% compared with the same quarter of 2025, reaching 1.865 billion dinars, but declined by nearly 2% compared with the end of 2025.

Personal loans recorded continued growth, reaching 4.664 billion dinars, an increase of 3.2% and 2.7% compared with the first and fourth quarters of last year, respectively. Credit cards also continued their upward trend, reaching 565 million dinars, with annual growth of 4.8% compared with the same period of last year, and 1.4% compared with the end of the same year.

On the other hand, consumer loans declined significantly, by more than 17%, to 1.051 billion dinars compared with the first quarter of 2025. They also declined by 3.6% compared with the end of the same year, as a result of a shift in the pattern of facilities toward personal loans and tighter credit policies by banks toward this type of loan.

Service loans, which include education and primary healthcare loans, recorded a 53% jump, reaching 26 million dinars compared with the first quarter of last year, and nearly 82% compared with the end of 2025. Meanwhile, financing for other items rose to 387 million dinars during the period from January to the end of March of the current year.