Synopsis: In 2025, India has over 110 million active credit cards, yet only around 4.6% of the population actually uses one. Credit card adoption varies sharply across states. Delhi leads the country with 12% usage, while large states like Maharashtra and Karnataka also show strong adoption.
Credit cards are everywhere in ads, offers, and shopping apps. But how many people in India actually use them? And does credit card usage look the same across all states? The short answer is no. If you are in a metro city like Bengaluru or Mumbai, credit cards are commonly used everywhere but when you step outside the metro areas, the story changes quickly.
Even though digital payments are booming, credit cards remain limited. Out of India’s massive population, less than 5% use credit cards. Metro cities swipe more, while many states still rely heavily on cash and UPI. Read on to know if your state is on top or bottom, how India’s financial habits are changing and where growth is still missing.
Credit Card Usage in India: The Current Picture
| Rank | State/Union Territory | % of usage (population based) |
| 1 | Delhi | 12.0% |
| 2 | Chandigarh | 11.0% |
| 3 | Goa | 10.0% |
| 4 | Maharashtra | 9.5% |
| 5 | Karnataka | 8.5% |
| 6 | Telangana | 8.0% |
| 7 | Tamil Nadu | 7.5% |
| 8 | Haryana | 7.0% |
| 9 | Gujarat | 6.5% |
| 10 | Punjab | 6.0% |
| 11 | Kerala | 5.5% |
| 12 | Andhra Pradesh | 5.0% |
| 13 | Uttar Pradesh | 4.0% |
| 14 | West Bengal | 3.5% |
| 15 | Rajasthan | 3.0% |
| 16 | Madhya Pradesh | 2.5% |
| 17 | Odisha | 2.0% |
| 18 | Bihar | 1.5% |
| 19 | Jharkhand | 1.0% |
| 20 | Chhattisgarh | 1.0% |
| 21 | Assam | 0.8% |
| 22 | Uttarakhand | 0.7% |
| 23 | Himachal Pradesh | 0.6% |
| 24 | Jammu & Kashmir | 0.5% |
| 25 | Tripura | 0.4% |
| 26 | Manipur | 0.3% |
| 27 | Meghalaya | 0.3% |
| 28 | Nagaland | 0.2% |
| 29 | Arunachal Pradesh | 0.2% |
| 30 | Mizoram | 0.2% |
| 31 | Sikkim | 0.1% |
| 32 | Puducherry | 0.1% |
| 33 | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 0.05% |
| 34 | DNHDD (Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu) | 0.05% |
| 35 | Ladakh | 0.05% |
| 36 | Lakshadweep | 0.01% |
Source: IndiaDataMap (2025). State-wise Credit Card Adoption Trends in India. Data compiled and simplified for clarity.
India has seen rapid growth in digital payments, but credit cards tell a slightly different story. While monthly credit card transactions now run into hundreds of millions, most of this spending comes from a few urban-focused states. People in metro cities use cards regularly because banks actively market cards there, shops and apps accept cards easily and salaried jobs make eligibility simpler.
While in many smaller states, credit cards are still seen as risky due to low usage and due to common myths about credit cards.
States Leading in Credit Card Usage
According to the source of Indiadatamap, Delhi is at the top. Around 12% of people in Delhi use credit cards, which is the highest in the country. This is not surprising. Delhi is highly urban. People shop at malls, eat out often, travel frequently, and buy a lot online. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere, so using them feels normal.
After Delhi, Chandigarh and Goa stand out. About 11% of people in Chandigarh and 10% in Goa use credit cards. These are smaller regions, but people here generally have better access to banks and higher spending power.
Among large states, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu show strong usage. Cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai play a big role. Salaried jobs, tech professionals, and reward offers make credit cards a regular part of daily spending in these places.
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States Lagging in Credit Card Usage
While the national average is 4.6%, the lowest usage is seen in India’s small and remote regions. Lakshadweep has the lowest adoption at just 0.01%, followed by Ladakh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu at 0.05% each. In these areas, people mostly use cash. Banks are few, internet access is limited, and daily life does not require credit cards.
Among large states, Bihar and Odisha also show low usage. Only 1.5% of people in Bihar and 2% in Odisha use credit cards. This is mainly because these states have more rural populations, lower income levels, and less awareness about credit cards.
When we look at the number of users, the picture changes.
Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of credit card users in India around 9.66 million. This is because Uttar Pradesh has a very large population, even though only 4% of people use credit cards.
Maharashtra follows closely with 9.61 million users, and Bihar has around 6.75 million users. This clearly shows that a state can have many credit card users simply because of its size, even if the overall usage rate is low.
Why Is Credit Card Usage So Uneven Across States?
- Urban vs Rural Life: Cities have more card machines, malls, and online shopping. While the rural areas depend more on cash and UPI.
- Income Levels: Higher income makes it easier to qualify for and repay credit cards. Lower income reduces the chances of approval.
- Internet and Banking Access: Good internet and nearby banks help credit card growth while in most of the rural areas with poor connectivity slows it down.
In Conclusion
Credit card usage in India is still driven by cities. Urban states and Union Territories lead the way, while rural and remote regions lag behind. As banking access improves and awareness grows, more states may start using credit cards. But in 2025, credit cards remain far from universal.
Written by: Supriya
