A theory of why so many Americans are ignorant about the rest of the world - just a theory!

 

Only one-third of Americans have a valid US passport


Only a third of American adults say they have a valid and unexpired U.S. passport (37%) – about the same percentage as those who have never had a passport at all (38%). Another one in five Americans (20%) have an expired or invalid passport.


Granted, right NOW with Covid restrictions, when we shouldn't be traveling, it is hard to gauge how few Americans NORMALLY would travel abroad.
However, some data from before Covid:

U.S. citizens among least likely to travel abroad, British firm says

Overall, the United States ranked 60th of more than 100 nations in the study for international travel, despite having the world’s biggest economy in 2016. In terms of money spent while traveling abroad, Americans ranked 33rd.


Anecdotally - YES, Anecdotally - people used to sew the Canadian flag on their backpacks when traveling across Europe, even if the travelers were from the U.S.

SO:

Does my hypothesis have any legs?

Have you traveled a lot outside your native land?  Own a passport? Interested in other cultures, peoples, traditions?

Or are you a homebody?



 

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