Who Carries the Most Cash?

Austrians carry the most cash, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of Boston analysis of payment diary surveys in a number of countries. In Austria, the average person has $114 in his or her wallet (in US dollars). Germany is second, with the average person carrying $94. In the United States, the average person carries only $37.

The popularity of cash varies by country. Austrians and Germans carry more cash than Americans because they use cash more often. In both Austria and Germany, fully 82 percent of transactions are paid with cash versus 46 percent of transactions in the United States. Debit cards are more popular in the U.S., accounting for 26 percent of transactions versus only 13 to 14 percent of those in Austria and Germany. Credit cards account for a substantial 19 percent of transactions in the United States versus just 2 percent in Austria and Germany.

Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Consumer Cash Usage: A Cross-Country Comparison with Payment Diary Survey Data