There were 160.7 million valid US passports in circulation in 2023, up 36.8% from 2013.
Published Mon, March 4, 2024 by the USAFacts Team
Home / Population and society / Articles / How many US passports are in circulation?There are 160.7 million valid US passports in circulation as of September 2023, according to data from the State Department. That represents a 5.8% increase from 2022 and a 36.8% increase from 2013.
There are almost half as many passports in circulation as there are Americans, with 0.48 passports per person. However, because applicants can own both passport books and passport cards, the actual number of individuals with valid passports is lower than the total number of passports issued.
The State Department has issued passports to Americans traveling abroad since the 1700s. In 2008, it introduced passport cards, a smaller and more affordable alternative that allows American citizens to travel to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and Caribbean countries by land or sea. A passport card can’t be used for air travel over international borders.
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