New Jersey leads US passport ownership, state-level travel gap widens

An estimated 53.1% of US citizens held valid passports in 2024, but ownership varied sharply between states, reflecting differences in travel opportunities, income and international connections.

Passport ownership across the United States varies considerably by state, with New Jersey recording the highest estimated rate and West Virginia the lowest, according to an analysis published by Visual Capitalist on 9 November 2026. The figures offer a geographical perspective on Americans’ access to international travel and the economic and social factors that may influence it.

The analysis estimates that 53.1% of US citizens held valid passports in 2024, meaning approximately 46.9%—or 146 million people—did not have one. New Jersey topped the state ranking, with an estimated 79.9% of its citizens holding valid passports. West Virginia recorded the lowest rate, at 20.7%, followed by Mississippi at 22.1%.

The estimates were developed using US Department of State passport issuance records and analysis from the Center for American Progress. They use historical issuance data to approximate the proportion of citizens, including children, holding valid passports. They should therefore be understood as estimates rather than a direct count of every valid passport in circulation.

The highest ownership rates were concentrated in the northeastern states and along the West Coast. California recorded an estimated rate of 71.8%, followed by Massachusetts at 71.2% and New York at 71.1%. Connecticut and Maryland also ranked among the leading states, at 65.1% and 64.1%, respectively.

The figures suggest that passport ownership is not evenly distributed across the country. New Jersey’s estimated rate was nearly four times that of West Virginia, highlighting the scale of the geographical gap.

Several states outside the traditional coastal centres also performed strongly. Colorado ranked seventh, with 62.5% ownership, while Utah placed tenth at 60.2%. Both were ahead of larger states such as Florida, Texas and Illinois.

Florida recorded an estimated rate of 59.9%, Texas 54.8% and Illinois 56.6%. The differences indicate that population size and the presence of major international airports alone do not explain variations in passport ownership.

The state-level differences come amid a longer-term transformation in Americans’ international travel habits. Visual Capitalist reports that roughly one in 20 Americans held a passport in 1990, compared with more than half of the population today.

International departures reached a record 107.7 million in 2024, including 53.8 million trips to destinations outside the neighbouring countries included in the broader travel count. Travel to overseas destinations was 20% higher than in 2019. The United Kingdom, Italy and France were among the most popular destinations.

The growth in international travel has also been accompanied by substantial spending. The average US overseas air traveller had a household income of approximately $163,000 in 2024 and spent an average of $1,907 abroad per trip, excluding international transportation.

These figures point to an important economic dimension of passport ownership. Having a passport does not necessarily mean that an individual can afford international travel, while the decision to obtain one may be influenced by employment, family connections, education and access to overseas opportunities.

Visual Capitalist identifies household income, international family connections and demand for overseas travel as possible factors behind differences in state-level passport ownership. The data presented, however, do not establish a direct causal relationship between any one of these factors and passport possession.

The income figures nevertheless provide useful context. International travel can involve substantial costs beyond the passport itself, including airfares, accommodation, insurance and other expenses. Households with greater disposable income may have more opportunities to travel abroad, although income alone does not determine whether someone holds a passport.

International family ties can also create incentives to obtain travel documents, particularly for people who regularly visit relatives in other countries. States with different demographic profiles and migration histories may therefore have different patterns of demand.

The figures should not be interpreted as a simple measure of how internationally connected a state’s population is. Passport ownership captures access to a travel document, not the frequency of travel, the number of countries visited or the extent of international engagement.

The national estimate of 53.1% passport ownership shows that a majority of US citizens had valid passports in 2024, but the state-level distribution reveals substantial differences in access and demand.

New Jersey’s leading position contrasts sharply with the much lower estimates for West Virginia and Mississippi. Meanwhile, the strong performance of Colorado and Utah shows that high ownership is not confined to coastal states.

For policymakers and businesses, these differences may be relevant to understanding regional travel demand, tourism markets and the economic conditions that shape international mobility. However, further analysis linking passport ownership with household income, education, migration background and actual travel frequency would be necessary to explain the underlying causes.

The broader picture is one of expanding international mobility alongside persistent geographical differences. A passport may be a basic requirement for crossing borders, but the ability to make use of it remains connected to economic resources and personal circumstances.

Sources

• Visual Capitalist, Mapped: Passport Ownership by U.S. State — published 9 November 2026, based on US Department of State issuance records and Center for American Progress analysis. The supplied source text did not include the direct article URL.