The U.S. Department of State (DoS) issued a record-breaking 24.5 million passports in 2024, the highest number ever. Looking at the data, we can spot some interesting patterns—some confirm what we expect, while others challenge common beliefs about passport demand and processing. Most importantly, this information can help you understand what to expect if you need a passport this year and beyond.
Surprisingly, just 12 states issued over half of all passports in 2024. While states like New York, California, and Florida were at the top, there were some unexpected findings. For example, Michigan, despite sharing a border with Canada, issued fewer passports than expected. Meanwhile, Washington, D.C., saw a massive 273% increase in applications.
We’ve been tracking passport trends for over 20 years, and this latest data reveals some key insights for 2025 and beyond. For instance, if you’re applying for a passport, this information can help you predict how long you might wait for routine processing or how hard it may be to get an appointment at a regional passport agency.
Let’s take a closer look at the most interesting trends from this past record-setting year and how they can help you plan.
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The 12 States with the Most Passports Issued in 2024
These 12 states issued over 12.4 million passports, making up the majority of all passports issued in 2024.
Key Takeaways:
- California, New York, and Texas dominated—no surprises there, given their massive populations, strong economies, and international airport hubs.
- Georgia ranked only 8th despite hosting the busiest airport in the U.S. (ATL), which suggests it’s more of a layover hub than a final destination for international travelers.
- Michigan, despite being a border state, ranked only 14th in passport issuance—raising questions about the assumptions many of us have about travel habits in border states.
Unexpected and Interesting Passport Insights from the Data
1. Washington, D.C.’s Passport Surge: What’s Going On?
With just 702,000 residents, D.C. issued over 247,000 passports in 2024—a 273% increase from the previous year! Why?
- It is home to the Washington Regional Passport Agency, which attracts applicants from Virginia and Maryland who need a passport fast.
- Many people in D.C. travel internationally for work or government jobs. The city has two major international airports—Dulles (IAD) and Baltimore (BWI)—which send travelers all over the world.
- Many government employees, diplomats, and international professionals live in D.C. and need to maintain valid passports to do their jobs. They also likely run out of empty passport pages faster than the rest of us!
What that means for passport applicants
If you are in the D.C. metro area, you may have a higher chance of experiencing passport application processing delays due to the high demand. You also may struggle to get an appointment at the Washington D.C. Passport Agency if you need urgent or emergency passport renewal.
Our advice: plan ahead. If you are in a Mid-Atlantic state, be sure to get your new passport application or passport renewal process started as soon as you know you need to. Give yourself 6 to 9 months of lead time to be sure you get the travel docs you need in time for your trip. If you don’t have that kind of time, consider hiring a passport expediting service to speed up the process on your behalf.
2. Do Border States Issue More Passports? Not Always!
You might think that states bordering Canada or Mexico would issue more passports than other states—but the data tells a different story. In 2024, when we compare each border state’s passport issuance to the national median (171,995 passports issued per state), we see a surprising split. About half of the border states issued more than the median, while the other half issued less.
Even when border states issue more passports than the median, many still rank lower than expected. Michigan ranked 14th in passport issuance (473K), even though it borders Canada. Meanwhile, Illinois (which has no international border) ranked 6th with 758K passports issued. Now this is likely because Chicago is a major hub for international travel, but it also shows that just because a state is near a U.S. border does not guarantee the highest levels of passport demand.
What that means for passport applicants
While some border states don’t have passport demand that is as high as we anticipated seeing, that doesn’t mean there’s no demand. So, while Michigan may have issued fewer passports than over a dozen non-border states, it did issue more passports in 2024 than two-thirds of the rest of the United States. If you live near a border or popular port of entry, you should be prepared for the possibility that demand for passport appointments and processing will be higher than in other regions of the country.
That said, if you frequently cross the border, look into a NEXUS or SENTRI card to make travel more efficient and to streamline leaving and reentering the U.S. These WHTI documents are worth the effort.
If you’re living in a border state and are worried about getting a passport as quickly as you need to, consider visiting a regional passport agency (Detroit has one for Michigan residents) or using a passport expediting service to get your documents in as little as 24 hours.
3. The International Airport Factor: Does It Matter?
You might think that states with the busiest airports issue the most passports, but that’s not always true.
Take Georgia, for example. It’s home to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), the world’s busiest airport in 2024, handling over 62 million travelers. But despite this, Georgia only ranked 8th in passports issued, with just over 600,000 passports issued.
Why? Most travelers at ATL are just passing through. Atlanta is a huge layover hub for airlines like Delta and Southwest, meaning many international travelers aren’t starting or ending their journey there—they’re simply connecting to another flight.
On the other hand, neighboring Florida ranks high in both passport issuance and international travel. With major international airports in Miami (MIA) and Orlando (MCO), and a large number of people traveling to and from the Caribbean and Latin America, Florida sees more residents applying for passports than Georgia does.
What that means for passport applicants
Don’t assume that a major international airport nearby means you will get your passport any slower or faster. Our advice still stands: No matter where you live, apply early to avoid last-minute complications or delays. If you have urgent passport needs, contact a top-rated passport expediting service or make an appointment at a regional passport agency.
4. Insights into Passports Issued Per Capita
It’s clear that California, Texas, and New York regularly issue the most passports each year. But when you compare the number of passports issued per person, some smaller states stand out.
New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Maine, and Alaska all have high passport issuance rates per capita. This means that, compared to their population sizes, more people in these states are getting passports than in larger states.
Why?
- Limited domestic travel options: People in smaller or more remote states may need to travel internationally more often.
- Proximity to Canada: States like New Hampshire and Maine are near Canada, making international travel more common.
- Cultural factors: Some areas have populations that travel abroad more frequently for business, leisure, or family connections.
At the same time, California, Texas, and New York also have high passport issuance per capita—likely due to their large international communities and major travel hubs.
What That Means for Passport Applicants
If you live in a state where lots of people get passports, appointments may be harder to find—especially during busy travel seasons
If you need a passport quickly and local appointment slots are full, consider traveling to a nearby acceptance facility or using an expedited passport service.
Even if you don’t have international travel planned yet, applying early can help you avoid last-minute stress and delays.
Smaller states can have higher per-person demand for passports than larger ones, which may lead to longer wait times. Planning ahead and applying early can help ensure you get your passport when you need it.
5. The Relationship Between Acceptance Facilities vs. Passport Issuance Rates
Living near one of the 26 regional passport agencies across the U.S. makes it easier to get an urgent passport, but that doesn’t mean states with these agencies issue more passports overall.
- States with multiple passport agencies, like California and New York, naturally rank high in passport issuance, but this is largely due to population size and international travel demand rather than the agencies themselves.
- Smaller states like Vermont have a regional passport agency but do not rank high in total passport issuance, suggesting that other factors, such as population and travel behavior, play a bigger role.
- Washington, D.C.’s 273% growth in passport issuance may be partly due to its regional passport agency, but it is also influenced by a high concentration of federal employees, diplomats, and international travelers.
- On the other hand, states like Michigan, despite having a regional passport agency in Detroit, underperform in passport issuance compared to non-border states like Illinois. This suggests that travel habits, socioeconomic factors, and alternative border-crossing programs (like NEXUS) may have a bigger impact on passport demand than the number of acceptance facilities.
What That Means for Passport Applicants
While passport agencies help in emergencies, they don’t necessarily drive overall passport issuance trends. Other factors, such as population, travel culture, and socioeconomic conditions, play a bigger role in passport demand.
However, if you need a passport fast, living near a regional passport agency is an advantage. If you can prove an urgent travel need, you may be able to secure a same-day or expedited passport appointment instead of waiting the full standard processing time.
If you don’t live near a regional agency, you’ll need to plan for how and where to get your passport processed quickly. Routine processing times can be unpredictable, so start your passport application at least 6-9 months before travel. Hiring a passport expediter to visit a regional agency on your behalf is always a smart option.
To make things even easier, many of the top expediters have offices located near multiple regional agencies. This means your application can be delivered to whatever regional agency, nationwide, has the fastest availability.
The Big Takeaways
Getting a passport on time is essential for international travel, and the data from 2024 shows that demand is high across the country. No matter where you live, planning ahead is key to avoiding delays and last-minute issues.
Routine processing times can vary, and passport agency appointments fill up fast—especially in high-demand areas. If you’re traveling soon and can’t afford to wait, a passport expediting service can help you get your passport in as little as 24 hours.
The best way to avoid unexpected travel disruptions is to apply as early as possible. If you need a passport fast, consider working with a trusted passport expediter who can navigate the process for you and get your documents in hand with minimal hassle.
Ready to get started? Check out our Ultimate U.S. Traveler’s Guide to Passport Expediters to find the fastest and most reliable option for your needs.
