4/10 Americans now own a valid passport, up from 1/33 in 1989

[Mr. Morden]

America is big.  There is no need for most regular folk to own a passport.  Most of us can't afford vacations to Europe or Asia.

But then why is it now up to 40%?  That's an enormous growth rate.

[Mr. Morden]

You need one to go to Canada/Mexico now, you didn't 25 years ago.  Nearly everybody in the military has one, that wasn't true 25 years ago.

You didn't need one for Canada until 2007 (which is presumably the reason for the jump in that year).  Most of the growth happened before that.

[Mr. Morden]

A passport has been a requirement for crossing the US-Canada border since the beginning of 2007.

Really? I didn't know this. Interesting. So what was the procedure to cross? Just show your driver's license and you're good?

Show your driver's license, but they'd also ask you a few questions, like "Are you carrying any guns, drugs, goods worth more than $1000" or something like that.  Also ask how long you plan to stay in the other country and so forth.  Same sort of questions they still ask you today, except you now need a passport as well.