Despite the decline, the value remains slightly above the European average of 76%, according to the annual edition of Intrum’s European Consumer Payment Report.
Across Europe, the number of consumers paying their bills on time has been increasing over the past two years, rising from 63% in 2023 to 74% in 2024.
Leading the ranks of timely payers are Spaniards and Austrians, with 83% managing to settle their bills on time. At the other end of the spectrum are the Greeks, with only 67% meeting payment deadlines.
Intrum attributes this increase to “greater financial stability,” indicating that “consumers are regaining confidence in their ability to pay bills and manage expenses.”
The report also highlights an improvement in perceptions of the ability to support a family (71% in 2025 compared to 63% in 2024) and cover work-related expenses, such as public transport (73% compared to 61%, respectively).
Despite the positive trend, the report reveals “signs of vulnerability,” with 43% of respondents still citing “the lingering effects of rising living costs, layoffs, and job insecurity.”
The study data indicate that Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) faces “increased difficulties” in paying bills on time, with more than a third of young people (36%) admitting they missed one or more bill payments last year, compared to 24% of the average European consumer, and 63% stating it occurs frequently.
Lack of money to meet obligations is cited by 52% of young people who missed payments, up from just 20% in 2024.
Social media’s influence on financial habits is acknowledged by 31% of these young individuals, who admit to incurring debt while trying to emulate influencers’ lifestyles. About 54% report negative impacts on their mental health.
The Intrum report also identifies a shift in consumers’ relationship with technology, with 70% considering social media promotes “unrealistic financial expectations.”
Only 30% say they make more impulse purchases than in 2024, down from 45% of the total, and just 18% express fear that artificial intelligence might replace their jobs.
In a statement, Luís Salvaterra, General Manager of Intrum Portugal, emphasizes that “the Portuguese continue to stand out for their commitment to financial responsibility,” although the decline compared to 2024 highlights that “segments of the population are feeling the pressure of monthly burdens.”
Intrum is a credit management services company headquartered in Sweden. The European Consumer Payment Report, based on a survey of 20,000 consumers in 20 European countries, details how Europeans manage their finances, deal with rising costs, and adapt to economic changes.
