| Calendar year | Number of male debtors | Number of female debtors | Total number of debtors |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 3,957 | 3,785 | 7,742 |
| 2009 | 4,526 | 4,034 | 8,560 |
| 2010 | 4,347 | 4,082 | 8,429 |
| 2011 | 4,231 | 3,888 | 8,119 |
| 2012 | 5,046 | 4,583 | 9,629 |
| 2013 | 5,231 | 4,538 | 9,769 |
| 2014 | 6,157 | 5,165 | 11,322 |
| 2015 | 5,869 | 5,231 | 11,100 |
Most debtors are male
Most debt agreement debtors were male in each year since 2008. In 2015, 11,100 people entered into debt agreements. Of these, 5,869 or 53% were male.
Graph: Male and female debt agreement debtors from 2008 to 2015
More males entered business related debt agreements than females
Most debt agreements are non–business related. More males than females entered business related debt agreements. In 2015, 9% of male debtors entered business related debt agreements, compared to 4% of female debtors.
The proportion of debtors who entered business related debt agreements increased compared to 2008:
- From 5% of male debtors in 2008 to 9% in 2015
- From 2% of female debtors in 2008 to 4% in 2015.
Economic conditions are the main cause of business related debt agreements for males and females
Similar to business related bankruptcies, economic conditions were the main cause of business related debt agreements for both males and females in 2015. In 2014, lack of sufficient initial working capital was the main cause of business related debt agreements.
The main causes of business related debt agreements for 2015 were:
- Economic conditions
- 38% of male debtors who entered business related debt agreements
- 36% of female debtors who entered business related debt agreements.
- Lack of sufficient initial working capital
- 21% of male debtors who entered business related debt agreements
- 23% of female debtors who entered business related debt agreements.
- Personal reasons, including ill health
- 19% of male debtors who entered business related debt agreements
- 20% of female debtors who entered business related debt agreements.
Excessive use of credit is the main cause of non-business related debt agreements for males and females
Since 2011, excessive use of credit was the main cause of non–business related debt agreements for both males and females.
The main causes of non–business related debt agreements for 2015 were:
- Excessive use of credit
- 47% of male debtors who entered non–business related debt agreements
- 46% of female debtors who entered non–business related debt agreements.
- Unemployment or loss of income
- 34% of male debtors who entered non–business related debt agreements
- 31% of female debtors who entered non–business related debt agreements.
- Domestic discord or relationship breakdowns
- 11% of male debtors who entered non–business related debt agreements
- 15% of female debtors who entered non–business related debt agreements.