Global Financial Literacy Falls to Record Low, Study Finds

Financial literacy among American adults has declined to its lowest level in a decade, according to the TIAA Institute’s 2026 financial literacy assessment.

Financial literacy challenges have been growing.

The findings were reported by Kerry Hannon for Yahoo Finance.

The study found that U.S. adults correctly answered only 47% of basic financial knowledge questions covering topics such as spending, borrowing, investing, and retirement planning.

The share of adults with very low financial literacy rose from 20% in 2017 to 25% in 2026. Experts cited growing financial stress, complex financial products, and increased reliance on social media for financial information as contributing factors.

Surya Kolluri of the TIAA Institute noted that financial decision-making has become more complex, particularly regarding retirement planning, investment choices, and debt management.