Is it true 75% of Americans have no passports nad have never been outside USA?

Question

75% of 250 millon

Answer 1

Sadly, but yes. I dont know why you put this in NYC because most of the people I know here have been outside of the US and are not even originally from the US but in Small town America people don't get out much, yeah...

Answer 2

I am absolutely sure you are 100% correct on that because I can go all over my own town and find that percentage of people who could not tell you how to get to our Intenational Airport 30 miles away. Also, I read once that half or more of the people who live in or around Boston had never been west of Worcester (mid state) about 40 miles.

On the other hand...no most don't have passports...no need to leave this country. We know we are not liked everywhere so we stay home...there is enough here to see without going outside our own borders.

Too, we also have a thorn in our side about not being liked elsewhere in the world... when we send money, aid and whatnot to the whole world when it asks and needs...being the find-the-need-and-fill it kind of "250 million" people that we are.

Answer 3

About that many yes. America is a really large county and most people really don't ever leave the area in which they grew up. It seems pathetic, but if you think about how most Europeans have traveled, just think about how much smaller those countries are, and how close they are to one another. For an American to leave his country, he'd have to either go to Canada or Mexico or fly all the way overseas... or to South America or the Caribbean I suppose. Anyway... for someone who lives in Kansas, smack in the middle of the country... or even Utah, Nevada, Tennessee, traveling anywhere outside of the country is going to be a really big ordeal and an expensive one! Also, a lot of those areas don't even have airports less than a 3 or 5 hour drive away from where they live.

Answer 4

Probably.

I visited a few years back and got talking to a group of parents at the park with their kids. Obviously they noticed I was British so were asking where abouts I was from etc and they actually thought Wales was Scotland and they didn't know about Wales at all. Ireland was a complete mystery to them also but they had heard of Jersey???!?!?!?
When asked to recite all of the states of USA they did it without thinking.

There are a lot of people in England who haven't been abroad either though, some people are just happy with their own surroundings. If you were American and you visited a different state every year then it would last you 50 years, why go abroad?

Answer 5

don't you think that is the same for most countries that are surrounded by oceans. Alot of people have been to Canada, Mexico and Caribbean nations where you did not need a passport (I have had mine since 98) What do you think the percentage is for most countries? For instance like Russia, Nigeria, China, Mexico, Australia, Canada. What are you trying to say? Is this just another stab at Americans (by an American). Are you going to try to blame this on Bush too? Most people have jobs that do not allow them weeks to travel abroad. My ancestry is in Ireland and I would love to go, so please call my boss and tell him to let me go so I will not remain an ignorant American. Is it that important to travel around the world these days? We can have all the info we need on the Internet. We are in a global community. Why are the young so negative against their own country? Did mommy and daddy send you to Europe for the summer? Lets get some positive facts about ourselves and stop focusing on negativity......

Answer 6

2005 Survey Results United States Canada
General population (18 years and over) 34% 41%
Same-day travellers (transborder) 44% 60%
Overnight auto travellers (transborder) 50% 70%
Overnight air travellers (transborder) 67% 75%

The percentages of passport holders among those who travel between the two countries might help to make better comparisons with Europeans travelling between countries. (21 Nov 2005)

Answer 7

It could be a true statistic. I don't have a passport and I don't desire one.

There is so much to do and see in the United States, I don't feel the need to go elsewhere. Maybe someday.

And to the person that thinks it is pathetic, let me tell you..you can live it up quite nicely here in the States.

Answer 8

Sounds about right. I would say of the 25% who do have passports, 50% do not travel out of the states. I have and will continue to do so. It is not overly expensive if you time you trip right. I have also been to 48 of 50 states. There is beauty in each, but the history alone outside of the US.........

Answer 9

In our own defense, it is very hard to travel abroad for many Americans. Neither of my parents were able to travel due to financial constraints. Yes, we know there is civilization beyond our borders, and my parents would love to see it, but have to console themselves with the history and travel channels until the costs of airfare and hotels don't take away from paying the mortgage and other bills. They are very proud of me, however, for going abroad eight times.


And to the person who asks if Americans have seen Iraq or Lebanon--how many Europeans who have no familial ties to either country have seen them? Give us a break.

Answer 10

I believe it's only 10 per cent of Americans hold passports and it's more likely than not they've never been outside their country. Afterall up til the time President GW Bush became president , he'd never been out of the country.

It's a sad fact isn't it.