Long-term debt enforcement cases surge in Finland

The number of people in prolonged debt enforcement in Finland has risen by about 25 percent in a year, according to Suomen Asiakastiedon data.

As of June 30, 20,600 individuals were in enforcement lasting more than 18 months, up from 16,500 a year earlier. Suomen Asiakastiedon customer manager Jaakko Nors called the increase significant.

“This is a large jump, and it shows that debt repayment has become more difficult,” Nors said.

He said he had not seen such a sharp rise in his career. “I believe this is the largest increase since the 2000s.”

Young adults aged 20 to 30 account for the majority of new payment defaults. Over 60 percent of defaults stem from overdrafts, installment loans and quick loans, partly driven by the ease of online shopping.

“People have a desire or urge to consume, but their purchasing power is not enough to match those spending habits,” Nors said.

The average debt recorded in enforcement cases is €2,168.

While problems deepen, there are signs of improvement. The overall growth in payment defaults has slowed, with 907,400 recorded in early 2026, about 10 percent fewer than a year earlier. The number of people with any payment default stood at roughly 387,000 at the end of June, about 10,000 more than a year ago.