is it true that 90% of Americans do not even have a passport?

Question

a question from a native of your cloest allie england

thankyou usa i am not anti usa in fact my mum is from usa, and my brother lives there.

however before i left england i also had the same limited view of the world that has changed.
i.e japan and germany used to be the enemy i visited both and know that politicians are the enemy not the people, they were great.

sorry usa you are such an important nation that you do need to see the world!!

Answer 1

Not quite that bad, the number I've seen is about 75% dont have one.

But remember that we didnt used to need a passport to go to canada, many of the warm sunny islands, etc. etc......


I also wonder how many of us could -find- england on a map.

Answer 2

Probably - unlike the EU (or the UK) people do not tend to frequently travel outside of the country for extended periods. Trips to our neighbors Canada and Mexico are normally day trips (which do not require a passport). You have to go farther in the USA to be in a foriegn country and people are not willing to spend the time in the traveling.

I have traveled overseas and have been surprised by the number of people who do not vacation near home. Americans tend to vacation near home.

Identification relys on drivers licenses rather than passports.

Don't write us off too quickly. Bear in mind that a lot of non-americans are here in the USA. Over the last 10 years I have worked on a daily basis with people from Germany(Munchen), Italy(Roma), Australia(Melbourne), India, Sri Lanka, UK, Puerto Rico, Korea, Vietnam, Mexico, China, and other places. The whole USA is as multinational as London.

Answer 3

I guess I'm part of the minority, because I do have a passport. I really haven't been to very many places outside of America, but I'm hoping to change that. So far I've been to England, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. Next month I'll be traveling to Germany, Austria, Italy and Switzerland. I'd also love to visit Asia and Africa some day. I love being able to experience other cultures and the beauty they offer.

Answer 4

i don't know a percentage, but i know i don't have one. never had a need for it.
most people never travel real far and the us is large enough that i think only a small percentage of people ever leave it.
i have been out of the country several times.. a few times to canada where no passport was needed.. once to europe when i was in the military.. no passport needed because a military id can get you almost anywhere in the world and back... and once on a cruise. didn't need a passport for that either..
new laws are going to be making the passports required more, though, so i'm sure the number of people who have them will be increasing in the next few years.

Answer 5

If this web site is correct: http://www.gyford.com/phil/writing/2003/01/31/how_many_america.php a little under 20% of Americans have passports.

That number should increase now that Americans returning from Canada will be required to show their passports at the border.

Hope that helps!

Answer 6

i thought the US had 52 states, which means V not counting the 1 you are living in, you can visit 51 other states.

now i dont know if hawaii requires a passport to enter, but it sounds like your maths may be a little flawed

but then again what do i know, i'm only irish

Answer 7

I think it is closer to 80%

It might also be interesting to get a number on how many have never left the city or state of the US they were born in.

Answer 8

I'm not certain about anyone else, but I have one from when we moved here from W. Germany (my father was military). My picture is from when I was maybe 9 months old! Do they expire? ~ I'm 35 now, and have never left the US again!

Answer 9

I don't know what the stats are on the number of Americans with passports. I know I have one. You never know when someone will ask you to go on an exotic vacation at a moments notice. I am ready to go.

Answer 10

Not true.
American travel all the time.
As almost 90% of America's young men are over in Iraq.