Australian debit card statistics

Explore how the typical Australian uses their debit card in our detailed guide to debit card statistics.

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William Capada

Updated

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Credit and debit card usage in Australia has become a key part of daily financial transactions, especially as the country moves towards a more cashless society. The statistics on credit and debit card transactions provide valuable insights into consumer behavior.

The number of credit cards in Australia saw a steady decline from 2018 to 2021, dropping to a low of 13.1 million by April 2022. Meanwhile, the number of debit cards has been steadily rising. By January 2026, there were 46.29 million debit cards in circulation in Australia, reflecting a 0.70% increase from the previous month and a 4.83% increase year-on-year. Check below for more insights.

How many people have a debit card and how much do they spend?

As of January 2026, the total number of purchases made with debit cards was 1.02 billion, 11.89% decrease from the previous month but a 3.98% increase year-on-year. The total value of these purchases reached $55.55 billion, 14.92% decrease month-on-month but 9.36% increase year-on-year.

On average, Aussies are spending $1,200 per card per month, which represents a 15.51% decrease from the previous month and a 4.32% increase year-on-year. The average number of purchases per debit card per month was 22.

How did domestic and overseas transactions change over time?

The value of domestic transactions reached $53.20 billion, showing a 15.26% decrease from the previous month but a 9.00% increase compared to the same period last year. Overseas transactions were valued at $2.97 billion, with a 7.71% decrease month-on-month but a 12.99% increase year-on-year.

How many ATM withdrawals were made, and what was the total amount withdrawn?

In January 2026, the total value of ATM cash withdrawals using debit cards was $9.01 billion, a 0.10% increase month-on-month but an 2.51% increase year-on-year.

There were 27.63 million ATM withdrawals in Australia, 0.21% decrease from the previous month and 2.74% decrease year-on-year. The number of ATM withdrawals in Australia remained relatively high until 2020. In April 2020, withdrawals dropped sharply to a low of 21.23 million, and have shown a flat trend since then.

Cash-out transactions

A cash-out transaction refers to obtaining cash from a merchant using a debit card at point-of-sale terminals. In Australia, the number of cash-out transactions using debit cards was 6.30 million, marking a 9.58% decrease from the previous month and an 7.10% decrease compared to the same period last year. The total value of these transactions was $615.98 million, reflecting a 12.72% decrease month-on-month and a 2.82% decrease year-on-year.

How common is credit and debit card fraud among Australians, and how do they respond?

Credit and debit card fraud remains a persistent concern for many people. In the July 2024 Finder CST survey, 26.7% of Australians have experienced credit or debit card fraud. Of these, 10.3% reported that their card information had been stolen and used, and they took the necessary steps to report the incident. Meanwhile, 4.4% admitted they had experienced card fraud in the past 12 months but chose not to report it. Alarmingly, 5% of respondents either weren't sure if they had been a victim of fraud or only realised it after some time had passed. Additionally, 7.1% noted that while they hadn’t faced fraud in the last year, they had been affected by it more than a year ago.

 

How has the way Australians use debit cards changed over the years?

The table below shows the yearly average number of accounts, total spending on purchases, and both the average and total cash withdrawals.

Sources

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Written by

Insights Analyst

William Capada is an insights analyst at Finder. With years of experience as an analyst, he has honed his skills in analysing complex datasets and extracting actionable insights. Proficient in various analytical tools, he has a proven track record of delivering meaningful insights that drive strategic decision-making. William conducts research related to economic data and is also responsible for updating the insights statistics pages. He also assists in ensuring that the scoring makes sense for the Finder Retail Awards. See full bio

William's expertise
William has written 4 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Data Analysis
  • Data Visualization
  • Retail Awards
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