The U.S. Department of State issued a record 7,300,667 passports, including first-time and renewals, during fiscal year 2003, which ended September 30. This follows two years of declining passport numbers. The previous annual record of 7,292,182 was set in 2000. The increase brings the total number of valid passports to an estimated 59 million, representing about 21 percent of the U.S. population. (source: Travel Industry Association of America, November 13, 2003)