Passport Pursuit: A Ranking of State Issuances
Nearly half the U.S. population held valid passports in 2023. That’s an over 22-fold jump from 1989, when only 7.3 million valid passports were in circulation, equating to a 0.45 increase per capita after accounting for population changes.
That said, according to data, residents in some states appear more interested in or able to travel internationally than others. These are the states that issue the most and least passports.
Travel Bug
USA Facts gathered data from the U.S. State Department to determine the states where residents applied for the greatest and fewest number of passports. All numbers in the following ranking are for passports issued in 2023 based on the number of passports per 100 residents. Do you live in a state with one of the highest number of passport issuances in America?
1: New Jersey
Passports issued: 8.3 per 100 residents
More Americans received a new passport in New Jersey in 2023 than in any other state, with 766,830 passports issued. The Garden State is home to Newark Liberty International Airport, which offers direct flights to over 50 countries. Given that small airports far from large metropolitan areas tend to be more expensive to fly from, New Jerseyites can often snag cheaper international flights than Americans from many other parts of the country.
2: Massachusetts
Passports issued: 7.7 per 100 residents
With Boston Logan being an international airport hotspot in Massachusetts, it’s no wonder so many Bay Staters are passport holders. Several airlines offer nonstop service from Boston to London, with the flight time being an easy-breezy 6.5 hours.
3: Hawaii
Passports issued: 7.6 per 100 residents
Many Americans dream of vacationing in Hawaii, but it appears that lots of Hawaiians are interested in leaving their Aloha State to travel abroad. Given its relative proximity to countries like Japan, Hawaii is a great base for exploring Asia.
4: New York
Passports issued: 7.5 per 100 residents
New Yorkers join their New Jersey neighbors in having international wings on their feet. Although many Americans envision LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy airports when they think of traveling internationally from NY, Upstate New York also has several airports offering direct international flights.
5: California
Passports issued: 7.2 per 100 residents
California offers its residents several high-traffic international airports to start their globetrotting. Los Angeles International Airport is The Golden State’s biggest airport, with over 60 million travelers passing through it each year. San Francisco and San Diego also offer many international flights.
6: Connecticut
Passports issued: 7.2 per 100 residents
Bradley International Airport might not ring a bell to Americans who don’t travel often. But to the many Connecticuters who received a passport last year, you can bet they’ll be making use of it to help them start their international adventure. Connecticuters can fly directly to a handful of destinations, such as Dublin, Ireland, and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
7: Maryland
Passports issued: 7.1 per 100 residents
Baltimore/Washington International Airport is the primary base for Maryland’s passport holders wanting to travel abroad. Sixteen nonstop international options exist, including Frankfurt, Germany, and Panama City, Panama.
8: Colorado
Passports issued: 7.0 per 100 residents
Whether Coloradans want to escape snowy winters or try their hand at skiing abroad, one thing is certain: Traveling abroad is in demand for Centennial Staters. Denver offers the only international airport in the state, with direct flights to 13 destinations abroad.
9: Washington
Passports issued: 6.8 per 100 residents
With the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport a gateway for traveling to Asia, it’s no wonder that so many Washingtonians received passports in 2023. Travelers wanting to head East are in luck, too; Paris, Amsterdam, and Dubai are some of the many nonstop flight options.
10: New Hampshire
Passports issued: 6.7 per 100 residents
New Hampshire rounds out the top ten states with residents that received the greatest number of passports in 2023. That said, New Hampshirites don’t have as easy access to international destinations as other states on this list so far, so they often have to spend more travel time to arrive at their destination.
11: Florida
Passports issued: 6.6 per 100 residents
Whether it’s to escape the heat or head away from the snowbirds, Floridians were issued a high number of passports last year. International airports like Miami, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, and Tampa are hubs for destinations in the Caribbean and Latin America.
12: Virginia
Passports issued: 6.6 per 100 residents
Virginia is one of three states tying with Florida for the number of residents per capita that received passports in 2023. Virginians have the unique benefit of being home to Dulles International Airport, which serves the Washington, D.C., area. The result? Residents have access to over 60 nonstop international flights.
13: Utah
Passports issued: 6.6 per 100 residents
Utah joins Florida and Virginia in the number of passports issued in its state. The Salt Lake City Airport is the main international airport in Utah, offering nonstop services to about a dozen international destinations, including Vancouver, Canada, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
14: Rhode Island
Passports issued: 6.5 per 100 residents
As the tiny state it is, many Rhode Island passport holders use the T.F. Green International Airport for their getaway abroad. That said, almost all residents must have at least one layover, for T.F. Green’s international options are limited.
15: Alaska
Passports issued: 6.2 per 100 residents
Depending on where Alaskans live within The Last Frontier, it can cost them a pretty penny to arrive at an international airport to embark on their trip abroad. Nevertheless, it doesn’t appear to be stopping residents from arriving at the Anchorage and Fairbanks airports, both of which offer international flight options.
16: Illinois
Passports issued: 6.1 per 100 residents
The Chicago O’Hare International Airport makes it a breeze for Illinoisans living near Chicago to travel to most regions of the world. Travelers can pick from around 95 nonstop international flights to over 50 cities every day.
17: Minnesota
Passports issued: 6.1 per 100 residents
Minnesota residents don’t seem to blink an eye at not having as big of an international airport as Illinois; The U.S. government issued Minnesotans the same number of passports per 100 residents. Those flying out of Minneapolis-Saint Paul can head to destinations like Montreal, Canada, and Cancun, Mexico.
18: Vermont
Passports issued: 6.0 per 100 residents
Vermont shares its border with Canada, meaning that Americans can apply for a passport card to cross by land. But they clearly want to travel by air, too, based on the relatively high number of passports issued to Vermonters last year. That said, most Vermont residents need to fly to a larger airport hub before connecting with an international destination.
19: Oregon
Passports issued: 5.9 per 100 residents
Oregon offers two international airports for its residents: Portland International and Rogue Valley International Medford. Travelers can escape cold winters by flying to Guadalajara, Mexico, or head to Vancouver, Canada, for more snowy fun.
20: Texas
Passports issued: 5.9 per 100 residents
Texas abounds with international flight options for its many passport holders. Some of the airports offering the greatest number of international flights include those in Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. Whether Texans have their eyes on Latin America or Europe, there are direct flight options.
21: Nevada
Passports issued: 5.9 per 100 residents
Las Vegas is a hub for people wanting to visit Nevada, but it’s also a great option for residents wanting to travel internationally. Seoul, South Korea, and Tel Aviv, Israel, are options, not to mention international destinations from airports like Reno/Tahoe.
22: Delaware
Passports issued: 5.8 per 100 residents
Delaware ranks just beneath Nevada for the number of passports issued last year. However, its residents have fewer choices for direct flights to international destinations. So, it takes a little legwork (and quite possibly extra money) for many Delawareans to travel abroad.
23: Maine
Passports issued: 5.7 per 100 residents
Maine has three different airports with “international” in their names. However, they primarily serve domestic destinations, meaning that most Mainers traveling abroad must have at least one layover to arrive at their destination.
24: Georgia
Passports issued: 5.6 per 100 residents
Georgia is home to the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which has been named the busiest airport in the world. Naturally, Georgians who live near Atlanta have loads of international direct flight options. Istanbul, Turkey, and Amsterdam, the Netherlands, are among them.
25: Idaho
Passports issued: 5.4 per 100 residents
In stark contrast to Georgia, Idaho residents don’t have nearly as many opportunities for direct international flights. That didn’t stop many residents from applying for a passport, though. Idahoans may find themselves having a layover in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, and the like before flying to their final destination.
26: Pennsylvania
Passports issued: 5.2 per 100 residents
Pennsylvania offers several international airports, with Philadelphia having the greatest variety of direct international flights. Doha, Qatar, and London, England, are among them.
27: Montana
Passports issued: 5.2 per 100 residents
Montana is the second of four states with 5.2 passports issued per 100 residents. Despite several of Montana’s airports having “international” in their names, they mostly serve domestic destinations. So, Montanans need to be prepared for one or more layovers to arrive at their international destination.
28: Wisconsin
Passports issued: 5.2 per 100 residents
Similar to Montanans, Wisconsinites may need to jump through some hoops to arrive at the dreamy international destination they want to visit. For example, the Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport serves certain destinations on a seasonal basis, such as Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
29: Arizona
Passports issued: 5.2 per 100 residents
Arizona is the final of four states with 5.2 passports issued last year per 100 people. That said, it’s easier for Arizonans to travel internationally from airports like Phoenix Sky Harbor, which offers nonstop service to over 20 cities abroad.
30: North Carolina
Passports issued: 5.1 per 100 residents
North Carolina is proof that the number of direct international flights from a state doesn’t always correspond with increased passport demand. Charlotte-Douglas International is one of the busiest airports in the world, with 1,400 domestic and international flights arriving and departing daily, averaging 118,000 people passing through its gates every day.
31: Nebraska
Passports issued: 5.0 per 100 residents
Nebraska only has one airport that’s considered a major U.S. airport, the Omaha Eppley Airfield. Not only does this airport just offer direct domestic flights, but their options become even more limited for certain domestic destinations, depending on the season.
32: Wyoming
Passports issued: 4.7 per 100 residents
Wyoming residents are hard-pressed to find direct international flights in their state. In almost all cases, they must fly to a larger airport, such as in Denver or Salt Lake City, to connect with an international flight.
33: North Dakota
Passports issued: 4.7 per 100 residents
Don’t let the “international” in three of North Dakota’s airport names fool you; they primarily serve destinations within the U.S. So, passport-holding North Dakotans will need to head to cities like Dallas or Las Vegas to catch a flight abroad.
34: Michigan
Passports issued: 4.7 per 100 residents
As seems to be the trend this low on the list, Michigan residents usually need to fly to a larger city before traveling internationally. That said, the Capital Region International Airport in Lansing offers seasonal international flights, including to Cancun, Mexico, and Montego Bay, Jamaica.
35: Kansas
Passports issued: 4.6 per 100 residents
Kansans have many options for traveling domestically in the U.S., where they can connect with an international flight. The largest airport in Kansas is the Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport. It offers flights from Las Vegas to Washington, D.C. and was named the third best small airport in America.
36: Iowa
Passports issued: 4.6 per 100 residents
The Des Moines International Airport is the largest airport in Iowa. Unfortunately for Iowans with the desire to globetrot, they almost always have to fly to a larger city within the U.S. before continuing on to their final destination.
37: South Carolina
Passports issued: 4.6 per 100 residents
South Carolina is home to several airports, but all of them are small and far from having a hub-like quality. Of The Palmetto State’s airports, Charleston Airport is the biggest and busiest. However, March 2024 will be the first time that Charleston serves a daily international flight. The destination? Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada.
38: Ohio
Passports issued: 4.4 per 100 residents
Cleveland Hopkins and Port Columbus are some of Ohio’s biggest airports. Ohioans with passports can travel to places like Nassau, Bahamas, and Dublin, Ireland.
39: South Dakota
Passports issued: 4.3 per 100 residents
Sioux Falls Regional Airport offers South Dakotans the chance to fly abroad, but they first need to fly to a connecting city. Luckily, the airport offers flights to international hubs like Los Angeles and Chicago.
40: Missouri
Passports issued: 4.3 per 100 residents
Missourians wanting to travel abroad have limited direct flight options. Kansas City International is the state’s largest airport, where residents can fly directly to a limited number of international destinations, such as Cancun, Mexico.
41: Indiana
Passports issued: 4.2 per 100 residents
Indiana is the first state to rank in the bottom ten states for the number of passports issued per 100 residents last year. The Hoosier State has a handful of airports with “international” in their name. However, Indianans have limited direct international flight options compared to residents of some states.
42: Tennessee
Passports issued: 4.2 per 100 residents
Nashville International is the busiest airport in Tennessee. However, Canadian destinations are about as international as it gets for this airport, with some Canadian routes even being seasonal.
43: New Mexico
Passports issued: 4.1 per 100 residents
Traveling abroad from New Mexico isn’t the quickest, given that residents almost always need to fly to a different U.S. city for a layover. Of New Mexico’s airports, Albuquerque International Sunport is the largest, with airlines like Southwest and Alaska Airlines operating from it.
44: Oklahoma
Passports issued: 3.8 per 100 residents
The Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City is Oklahoma’s largest airport, but the word “world” in its name is a bit of a misnomer. Currently, there aren’t any nonstop international flights from Will Rogers.
45: Louisiana
Passports issued: 3.6 per 100 residents
Louisiana globetrotters are luckier than residents in several states we’ve covered; they have a handful of direct international flight options via the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. London, England, and Cancun, Mexico, are among them.
46: Kentucky
Passports issued: 3.5 per 100 residents
Although the Louisville International Airport doesn’t offer international flights at this time, Kentuckians can head to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport for some direct flight options. The airport serves several Latin American destinations and a couple in Europe.
47: Alabama
Passports issued: 3.4 per 100 residents
Traveling abroad from Alabama is relatively time consuming, given that some of its major airports like Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Huntsville International don’t offer nonstop services to destinations abroad.
48: Arkansas
Passports issued: 3.3 per 100 residents
The Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport is Arkansas’ biggest airport. Unfortunately for passport holders in Arkansas, they first need to fly to a hub like Miami, Los Angeles, or Laguardia before continuing to their overseas destination.
49: Mississippi
Passports issued: 2.7 per 100 residents
Mississippi residents aren’t only limited in the number of international destinations they can fly nonstop to, but their domestic options are relatively limited as well. The Jackson-Evers International Airport, a major airport in Mississippi, doesn’t currently offer international routes.
50: West Virginia
Passports issued: 2.6 per 100 residents
West Virginia had the fewest passports issued to residents per capita. The Mountain State doesn’t have any massive airports, and only four airlines operate one to three routes each from the West Virginia International Yeager Airport.
Airport Accessibility
Although there isn’t a perfect correlation, generally speaking, Americans living in states with more options for direct international flights tend to have higher rates of passport issuance of the more than 24 million passports that the State Department issued in the 2023 fiscal year.
International in the Name
The reason that many U.S. airports can get away with having “international” in their name without offering any international flights is that they have customs and border control facilities in place. In some cases, airports may have aspirations to serve nonstop flights to international destinations, and in other cases, they might already do so but with cargo-only flights.
Passports vs Passport Cards
Passports allow Americans to travel via planes to anywhere in the world where American passports are accepted. In contrast, passport cards are a more economical passport-like option, allowing Americans entry into Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and Caribbean countries via land and sea only.
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