Buy now, pay later (BNPL) usage is growing fast in the UK so we carried out some research to see if buy now, pay later providers are disrupting the credit card industry and how we pay for products. Here are the latest BNPL statistics.
BNPL statistics: Highlights
In 2024, around 380 million people use BNPL services globally. This is predicted to increase to 670 million by 2028.
As of 2025, 2 in 5 UK adults (42%) have used BNPL services at some point, approximately 22.6 million people. This is up from 36% at the start of 2023.
A further 1 in 10 Brits (9%) intend to use BNPL in the future. This would take the total number of users to half of the population (51%).
1 in 3 Brits (31%) used BNPL services in the year to January 2024, and 14% used it for the first time in this period.
Over half of people who used BNPL in 2023 paid a late fee (53%), an estimated 10.6 million people.
The UK BNPL market is forecast to grow from £29.85 billion ($38.76 billion) in 2024 to £47.27 billion ($61.39 billion) by 2029.
49% of Brits have not used BNPL and are unsure if they will use it in the future.
How many people use buy now, pay later in the UK?
According to our 2025 survey, 2 in 5 UK adults (42%) have used BNPL at some point, which equates to around 22.6 million people. This number is up from an estimated 19.1 million (36%) at the start of 2023.
31% of Brits had used BNPL in the 12 months leading to January 2024, and 13% of Brits had used BNPL services for the first time in this period.
58% of Brits have never used BNPL and only 9% of this group are currently considering using it in the future. 14% admit they will not consider it, while 35% are still unsure.
How many people use buy now, pay later around the world?
In 2024, around 380 million people use BNPL services globally. This is predicted to grow to 670 million by 2028, an increase of 107% in 4 years.1
Buy now, pay later is popular with gen Z and millenials
Our research shows that BNPL is most popular with millennials (aged 28-43) – 3 in 5 have used buy now, pay later services at some point, with half (50%) using BNPL in the past year. It’s also popular with generation Z (aged 18-27) as well over half of this group (56%) have used BNPL at some point with 2 in 5 (39%) using it in the past year.
BNPL is also relatively popular with generation X (aged 43-54), as more than half of this group (52%) has used it before. However, the payment service is less popular among the older generations, with 3 in 10 baby boomers (31%) and less than 1 in 10 from the silent generation (9%) admitting to using it.
Generation
Percentage using BNPL
Generation Z
56%
Millenials
63%
Generation X
40%
Baby boomers
20%
Silent generation
10%
Adoption of BNPL among different age groups
The highest percentage of new BNPL users can be also be seen among millennials, as 1 in 5 from this group (20%) have used this service for the first time in the 12 months to January 2025. Interestingly, 17% of those in generation Z had used BNPL services at some point but not in the past year. This means that there are fewer new users (attracted in than past year).
Many BNPL providers have introduced late repayment fees, including Klarna, which began charging them in March 2023.
Our 2024 survey found that in the last 12 months, more than half (53%) of those who had used BNPL had been charged fees, with average fees per person adding up to £23.50.
This means an estimated 10.6 million Brits could have paid late fees in the previous 12 months, shelling out an eye-watering total of almost £250 million.
How popular is BNPL in different UK regions?
The use of buy now, pay later is highest in London, where more than half of residents (53%) have used it at some point, and lowest in the East of England, where 3 in 10 residents (31%) have used it at some point. Aside from this, there is not too much regional variation when it comes to BNPL usage.
Region
Percentage using BNPL
Greater London
52.7%
Northern Ireland
50.9%
West Midlands
45.4%
South West
44.9%
Scotland
44.0%
North West
42.5%
Wales
40.8%
East of England
39.1%
East Midlands
38.9%
Yorkshire and the Humber
38.3%
South East
37.5%
North East
30.9%
Buy now, pay later market size in the UK
The UK buy now, pay later market is forecast to grow from £29.85 billion ($38.76 billion) in 2024 to £47.27 billion ($61.39 billion) by 2029, with an annual growth rate of 9.8%.2
Methodology
Finder commissioned Censuswide in January 2025 to carry out a nationally representative survey of adults aged 18+. A total of 2,006 people were questioned throughout Great Britain, with representative quotas for gender, age and region.
Finder previously commissioned Censuswide in January 2023 to carry out a nationally representative survey of adults aged 18+. A total of 2,000 people were questioned throughout Great Britain, with representative quotas for gender, age and region.
Sophie Barber is a senior content marketing manager for Finder in the UK. She has over 5 years experience in writing and publishing clear, concise and informative articles that help consumers make informed decisions. See full bio
Sophie's expertise
Sophie has written 97 Finder guides across topics including:
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We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
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