Student loan debts sent to enforcement rise as one in eight debtors under 30

One in eight people in debt enforcement proceedings in Finland are now under 29 years old, according to a new report from the Finnish Enforcement Authority.

The average debt for young people in enforcement stands at €6,900, with student loans accounting for a growing share. Over the past two years, the average student loan sent to enforcement has increased by 14 percent, reaching €8,500 at the start of this year—up from €8,000 in 2024 and €7,400 in 2023.

Loans, credit debts, and unpaid bills make up the largest share of enforced debts among young people, with student loans ranking second. The authority attributes the rise in youth indebtedness partly to employment difficulties, noting that 60 percent of young debtors in enforcement are men.