TOKYO -- Only 17.5% of Japanese nationals held passports at the end of 2024, a much lower rate than in other advanced economies, amid rising costs overseas and a weakening appetite for travel among younger generations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thursday that there were about 21.64 million valid passports at year-end. It issued 3.82 million in 2024, up slightly from 2023 but down by roughly 700,000 from 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. Around half went to people younger than 30, with those 60 and older making up 13%.
