Why Passport Covers Around the World Only Come in Four Colors (6 photos)

There are 195 recognized countries in the world today, yet all passports—both domestic and international—come in just four primary colors, shades aside. While there are no official international regulations restricting the color palette, every nation has its own reasons for choosing the hue of its primary identity document.





Red



Red is the most common passport color worldwide. It is often favored by countries with a communist past or present, such as Slovenia, China, Serbia, Latvia, Romania, Poland, and Georgia. Additionally, members of the European Union typically use red or burgundy covers.

Nations aspiring to join the EU, such as Turkey, North Macedonia, and Albania, switched their passport covers to red a few years ago. In South America, burgundy passports are used by member states of the Andean Community—Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

Blue





Blue is the second most popular choice, often symbolizing the "New World." It is used by 15 Caribbean nations. For South American countries like Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, blue passports reflect their connection to the Mercosur trade bloc. Venezuela is the lone exception; despite being part of the coalition, it issues red passports. The United States has used blue passport covers since 1976.

Green



Most Islamic nations opt for green passport covers. Green is believed to have been the Prophet Muhammad's favorite color, and it also symbolizes life and prosperity. Several African nations—such as Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Niger, and Ivory Coast—also use green. In their case, the color signifies membership in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Black



Black passports are the rarest. They are issued by several African nations, including Botswana, Zambia, Burundi, Gabon, Angola, Chad, Congo, and Malawi. New Zealand citizens also carry black passports, as black is the country's national color.



On this map, countries are color-coded according to their passport covers.

And here are a few more fascinating facts about passports.