At the end of 2025, the average value of a single obligation among women rose to PLN 6,285, or PLN 265 more than at the end of 2024. By comparison, the average for men was PLN 5,470 at the end of December, just PLN 73 more than at the end of 2024 .
– It is also worth noting that the percentage of indebted women is clearly rising in the 65+ age group. Although men still predominate here, the difference is now only slight. Women in this age group account for 49.3% of those in debt. One of the reasons is certainly the still-present gender pay gap, which affects not only everyday finances during one’s career but also the amount of one’s pension. Another factor is that women live approximately eight years longer than men. As a result, their loans, which make up for potential pension shortfalls, are not only larger but are also taken out over a longer period – notes ERIF BIG expert Katarzyna Skrzypczyńska.
It should also be noted that despite the rising value of an individual obligation, women’s share of the total number of debtors is falling. At the end of 2025 women accounted for only 35.5% of all people in debt, which is 1.59 percentage points less than a year earlier.
Women earn nearly PLN 800 less
According to the latest data from Statistics Poland (Distribution of wages in the national economy in August 2025 ), women’s average gross pay in the national economy is PLN 8,424.71. By comparison, men earn an average of PLN 9,220.24 gross, or nearly PLN 800 more. This is a significant disparity, and nothing suggests that the situation will change quickly. Looking at Statistics Poland data, we can see that women’s and men’s earnings are growing at a similar pace year on year: by 8% and 7%, respectively.
– Differences in earnings have a direct impact on the need to take on financial obligations. However, considering the scale of this discrepancy and the fact that women nevertheless account for only about one-third of Polish debtors, one may conclude that they take a more responsible approach to managing their budgets. Women more often plan expenses in advance, approach risk more cautiously and are less likely to make impulse purchases. The pay disparity therefore does not automatically translate into greater financial problems; rather, it highlights differences in approaches to managing money – adds Katarzyna Skrzypczyńska.
Why do we have debts?
An analysis of data from ERIF Biuro Informacji Gospodarczej shows that the most common debts are non-bank loans, which account for 20% of obligations. In second place are various types of multimedia-related services (telecommunications, digital television, subscriptions and instalments for equipment purchased from operators) – 18% of Poles’ debts. Next are child-support payments (16%), court-ordered obligations (15%) and obligations to banks (14%).