British Passports

[georgit79]

Following on from an answer given in the News section, does anyone know how many Britons own passports?

[Quizmonster]

I can tell you almost exactly, because - after a recent discussion in the pub on this very topic - I contacted the HQ of the Passport Office. Here is their reply:

 

"Thank you for your recent letter dated 13 August 2004, to the UK Passport Service regarding the number of British Citizens who hold a valid passport. 

 

I can confirm that in the last ten years (1 April 1994 to 31 March 2004), 47.5 million British passports have been issued by the UK Passport Service and a further 4.1 million by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), who issue British passports to British Nationals Overseas."

I trust that answers your query. Looks like well over 80%.

[georgit79]

Thanks Quizmonster, brilliant reply.

Ha ha to those Americans who thought we'd be at a similar percentage.

[georgit79]

Although, having just written that, I feel bad, because it is of course much easier to travel abroad from GB than it is from the States...I guess we all want to escape more than they do!

[bernardo]

You would have to reduce this figure by about 2 or 3 million in order to account for natural wastage (i.e. those who have died since).  WVNBIVDB

[Alej]

and add for new applicants bernardo

[bernardo]

There would only be very few new applicants since 31st March  GSTQ