Debtors' Ombudsman
Statistics 2024
Here you can see a summary of the main statistics for 2024
Statistics 2024
In 2024, 749 applications for financial assistance were received compared to 702 applications in 2023.
Most of the applicants are individuals who live in rental housing on the labour market. In 2024, 40% of the applicants were employed compared to 34% in 2023. The percentage of disabled people is still quite high, 35% of all applicants are disabled, down from 26% in 2023.
The number of property owners has increased, with 17% in 2024 and only 9% in 2023.
The number of applications from married couples and cohabiting partners with and without children increased in 2024, to 16% of all applications in 2024 compared to 10% in 2023.
Gender division | |
|---|---|
Women | 52% |
Men | 48% |
Age | |
|---|---|
18-29 years | 20% |
30-39 years | 39% |
40-49 years | 26% |
50-59 years | 15% |
60-69 years | 5% |
70 years and older | 1% |
Family size | |
|---|---|
Individuals | 75% |
Individuals with children | 9% |
Couples and cohabiting couples | 13% |
Couples and cohabiting couples with children | 3% |
Residence | |
|---|---|
Renting | 47% |
Social rent | 11% |
Other | 9% |
Right of residence | 1% |
Own real estate | 17% |
Homeless | 4% |
In parent homes | 9% |
Workplace | |
|---|---|
Unemployed | 19% |
Homework | 1% |
At Work | 40% |
In education | 2% |
Self-employed | 1% |
Disability and pensions | 37% |
In 2024, a total of 398 applications were processed for advisory services.
The average payment capacity was ISK 57,103.
The proportion of applicants with negative payment capacity was 21%.
The average asset value was ISK 9,156,637.
The average debt amounted to ISK 7,739,591.
Gender division | |
|---|---|
Women | 45% |
Men | 55% |
Age | |
|---|---|
18-29 years | 25% |
30-39 years | 34% |
40-49 years | 23% |
50-59 years | 13% |
60-69 years | 4% |
70 years and older | 1% |
Family size | |
|---|---|
Individuals | 74% |
Individuals with children | 13% |
Couples and cohabiting couples | 10% |
Couples and cohabiting couples with children | 3% |
Residence | |
|---|---|
Renting | 44% |
Social rent | 12% |
Other | 9% |
Right of residence | 1% |
Own real estate | 19% |
Homeless | 3% |
In parent homes | 12% |
Workplace | |
|---|---|
Unemployed | 20% |
Homework | 0% |
At Work | 43% |
In education | 2% |
Self-employed | 1% |
Disability and pensions | 33% |
The results of the applications for advice were as follows:
General financial advice | 25% |
Recommendation to examine bankruptcy | 3% |
Recommended financial aid | 1% |
Recommended payment adjustment | 10% |
Recommendation on the sale of assets | 1% |
Contracts with creditors | 8% |
Summary of financial position | 32% |
In 2024, a total of 169 applications for payment adjustment were processed.
Approved applications 49%
Rejected applications, after approval of 4%
Applications rejected 43%
Rejected applications before the decision was taken 4%
The average payment capacity was ISK 31.618.
The proportion of applicants with negative payment capacity was 41%.
The average asset value was ISK 6,316,113.
The average debt was ISK 1,988,456,955.
Gender | |
|---|---|
Men | 36% |
Women | 64% |
Age | |
|---|---|
18-29 years | 18% |
30-39 years | 40% |
40-49 years | 24% |
50-59 years | 10% |
60-69 years | 7% |
70+ | 2% |
Family size | |
|---|---|
Individuals | 57% |
Individuals with children | 35% |
Couples and cohabiting partners | 1% |
Couples and partners with children | 7% |
Residence | |
|---|---|
Other | 8% |
Right of residence | 1% |
Own real estate | 11% |
Not registered | 1% |
Social rent | 16% |
Homeless | 3 % |
In parent homes | 6% |
Renting | 54% |
Workplace | |
|---|---|
Unemployed | 18% |
Homework | 1% |
At Work | 32% |
In education | 2% |
Self-employed | 1% |
Disability and pensions | 47% |
In 2024, 66 agreements were concluded to allow for payment adjustments.
The average duration of contracts during the year was 18 months.
The proportion of surpluses in agreements reached was on average 67%
The agreement was reached on 100% retention of contractual obligations in 64% of cases.
There were 46 applications for financial assistance to cover the cost of the exchange process in 2024
Approvals received 48%
Applications rejected 41%
Rejected applications before the decision was made 11%
The average capacity was negative by ISK 147.
The proportion of applicants with negative payment capacity was 41%.
The average asset value was ISK 6,316,113.
The average debt was ISK 1,988,456,955.
Gender | |
|---|---|
Men | 67% |
Women | 33% |
Age | |
|---|---|
18-29 years | 22% |
30-39 years | 28% |
40-49 years | 26% |
50-59 years | 22% |
60-69 years | 2% |
70+ | 0% |
Family size | |
|---|---|
Individuals | 72% |
Individuals with children | 28% |
Couples and cohabiting partners | 0% |
Couples and partners with children | 0% |
Residence | |
|---|---|
Other | 15% |
Right of residence | 0% |
Own real estate | 0% |
Not registered | 4% |
Social rent | 11% |
Homeless | 4% |
In parent homes | 7% |
Renting | 48% |
Workplace | |
|---|---|
Unemployed | 18% |
Homework | 1% |
At Work | 32% |
In education | 2% |
Self-employed | 1% |
Disability and pensions | 47% |
The Debtors Ombudsman Act no. 100/2010 provides that the Debtors Ombudsman shall prepare and update maintenance criteria on a regular basis.
The Debtors' Ombudsman's ( Debtors' Ombudsman) standards are primarily intended as a reference when solving debt problems through the Office's resources. The standards are intended for a shorter period than the standards of various other government agencies, for example the typical standards of the Ministry of Welfare. The Office's standards take into account real expenditure of Icelandic households according to the expenditure survey of Icelandic households by Statistics Iceland.
Applicants must state in their application various costs of living, such as heat, electricity, childcare, property taxes and they are added to other costs to calculate the total cost of living for the family. The criteria thus take into account the circumstances of each applicant.
