Passport Statistics: The Number of American Passports Issued and in Circulation

The number of Americans who obtained passports increased more than 300% between 1974 and 2004. Although 9/11 had an impact on the number of passport applications processed in 2002, the effect did not last long. The number of passports issued continued to increase until 2007. That year witnessed the issuance of the greatest number of passport due to the introduction of the Western Hempisphere Travel Initiative. There was a decrease in the number of passports issued in 2008 and again in 2009. The last four years have witnessed a gradual increase in the number of passport issued. Passport Services expects a significant increase this year and next since passports issued in 2007 are coming up for renewal.

U.S. Passports Issued per Fiscal Year (2000 - 2015):

2015 - 15,556,216 2014 - 14,087,341 2013 - 13,529,757 2012 - 13,125,829 2011 - 12,613,153 2010 - 14,794,604 2009 - 14,170,171 2008 - 16,132,536

2007 - 18,382,798 2006 - 12,133,537 2005 - 10,123,424 2004 - 8,825,410 2003 - 7,300,667 2002 - 7,001,482 2001 - 7,119,506 2000 - 7,292,182

Passport Cards Issued

Passport cards were first issued on July 14,2008.

2015 - 1,647,413 2014 - 1,463,191 2013 - 1,408,865 2012 - 1,300,145

2011 - 1,173,092 2010 - 1,556,392 2009 - 1,544,718 2008 - 189,560

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Number of American Passports in Circulation

The number of American passports in circulation is constantly changing as new passports are issued and old ones expire or damaged ones are cancelled. While the number of passports issued has gone up and down over the past several years, the number of valid passports in circulation has only continued to increase.

2015 - 125,907,176 2014 - 121,512,341 2013 - 117,443,735 2012 - 113,431,943 2011 - 109,780,364 2010 - 101,797,872 2009 - 97,597,368 2008 - 92,038,623 2007 - 82,100,668 2006 - 70,598,794 2005 - 64,772,634 2004 - 60,890,770 2003 - 57,642,868 2002 - 55,169,571

2001 - 52,155,057 2000 - 48,614,417 1999 - 45,337,044 1998 - 42,576,973 1997 - 39,729,749 1996 - 34,365,046 1995 - 29,559,666 1994 - 25,156,620 1993 - 21,245,840 1992 - 17,950,578 1991 - 14,344,241 1990 - 11,116,489 1989 - 7,261,711

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