What it means: public sector net debt divided by the number of households. Households do not owe this directly; it is carried by the government and paid for over time through taxes. The chart shows total debt in pounds, which also rises with inflation, so the national debt card, as a share of GDP, is the better guide to whether debt is becoming harder to afford.

Source: ONS, public sector finances, series HF6W; households from ONS, families and households in the UK: 2025.