The population denominators were obtained from [U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. and World Population Clock](https://www.census.gov/popclock/).
illz757 on
I’m shocked it’s that high actually.
Actually – are the numbers you’re looking at – total issued – do these account for renewals? I’d wager 50% or more of those are renewals.
TheLogicError on
Surprised Japan & South Korea is so low given that they seem close enough to travel to other countries in SEA
Poosley_ on
Washington State keeps winning
Joe_M_N on
The purple and the note are a nice touch. The bright color choice reads as a very honest way of handling a data issue. Seems like a genuinely very difficult thing to measure.
muttshaw on
Dunno. Gonna need more convincing that only 3% of Americans had passports in 1990.
6 Comments
Submission Statement:
Used matplotlib and data from the below sources to create graphic.
Data:
The figures for valid passports in circulation from 1989 through 2025, as well as state-by-state issuance, were obtained from [U.S. State Department, Bureau of Consular Affairs](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/about-us/reports-and-statistics.html).
Peer-country counts were obtained from [Wikipedia summary citing Australia Passport Office](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_passport) & [Australian Bureau of Statistics June 2025 release](https://www.abs.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/population-15-june-2025), [Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Minister Transition Binder, May 2025](https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/transparency/transition-binders/minister-2025-05/passport-program.html), [Irish Times](https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/01/01/more-than-one-million-irish-passports-issued-during-2024/) & [Irish Department of Foreign Affairs](https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-foreign-affairs/press-releases/passport-service-issues-over-1-million-passports-in-2024/), [Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Feb 2025 release](https://www.mofa.go.jp/press/release/pressite_000001_01011.html), [Wikipedia summary citing the Department of Internal Affairs (NZ)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_passport), [South China Morning Post](https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3319518/why-young-japanese-are-ditching-passports-and-overseas-travel), [Stellenbosch University Japan Centre](https://www0.sun.ac.za/japancentre/2025/07/02/only-1-in-6-why-fewer-japanese-are-holding-passports/), and [Wikipedia summary citing HM Passport Office](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_passport).
The population denominators were obtained from [U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. and World Population Clock](https://www.census.gov/popclock/).
I’m shocked it’s that high actually.
Actually – are the numbers you’re looking at – total issued – do these account for renewals? I’d wager 50% or more of those are renewals.
Surprised Japan & South Korea is so low given that they seem close enough to travel to other countries in SEA
Washington State keeps winning
The purple and the note are a nice touch. The bright color choice reads as a very honest way of handling a data issue. Seems like a genuinely very difficult thing to measure.
Dunno. Gonna need more convincing that only 3% of Americans had passports in 1990.