Surprising reason there are only 4 passport colours
Ever wondered why, with almost 200 countries around the world, passports come in only four different colours? A recent article from Business Insider has finally uncovered the surprising reason.
According to Hrant Boghossian, vice president of marketing at the interactive passport database, Passport Index, you’ll only find passports in variations of red, green, blue and black because there are only four factories around the world which manufacture these essential travel documents.
“Passport production is a highly controlled process, and only few companies around the world are doing it,” Boghossian explained. Because the cardstock used to make them generally comes from a third-party supplier, it “only comes in certain colour variations to meet the required standards.”
Despite this, countries are given freedom to choose different shades of the four colours as desired, and often use them as a nod to their national identities. Here’s where you’re most likely to see each colour passport around the world.
Red
Red, burgundy and similar colours are used by most countries in the EU, possibly “due to a past communist history,” Boghossian suggests – China and Russia both use burgundy. The Swiss, however, opt for a bright red, reflecting their national colour. There are also potential political reasons why countries might decide on red – “the passport of Turkey has changed to burgundy, in hope to join the EU.”
Green
“Most Islamic states use green passports because of the importance of the colour in their religion,” Boghossian explains, as it’s believed the colour was the Prophet Muhammad’s favourite. Many African countries also choose green, along with Mexico.
Blue
The most popular colour, blue is most often used by newer countries like Australia, Canada and the US. It is also widely used throughout Oceania and Central America.
Black
The least common colour, black passports are used by just 10 countries around the world, including New Zealand, for whom it is the national colour. It also has its practical uses, given black is less likely to show wear and tear.