Answer Brief
A 2026 study by NordPass reveals that the average number of managed passwords per user has decreased to 120, marking a reversal of a multi-year growth trend. The shift is attributed to the rise of passkeys, biometric authentication, and Single Sign-On (SSO) platforms, signaling a transition toward passwordless infrastructure.
Executive Summary: A 2026 study by NordPass reveals that the average number of managed passwords per user has decreased to 120, marking a reversal of a multi-year growth trend. The shift is attributed to the rise of passkeys, biometric authentication, and Single Sign-On (SSO) platforms, signaling a transition toward passwordless infrastructure.
Why It Matters
The 2026 NordPass data represents a critical turning point for global identity management. For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital footprint expansion, the volume of credentials users must manage is shrinking. This trend is not a sign of reduced digital activity, but rather the maturation of passwordless technologies like WebAuthn and passkeys. For East Asian enterprises—traditionally reliant on complex legacy authentication—this shift highlights the operational efficiency of SSO and biometric integration. While the reduction in password count lowers the attack surface for credential stuffing, Nord Security warns that total account volume remains high. Security teams should focus on managing 'ghost accounts' and ensuring that the transition to passkeys includes robust 2FA for the remaining legacy credentials, as abandoned or poorly managed accounts remain primary targets for cyberattacks.
Event Type: security
Importance: medium
Affected Companies
- Apple
- Meta Platforms
- Nord Security
- NordPass
Affected Sectors
- Cloud Infrastructure
- Cybersecurity
- Identity and Access Management
Key Numbers
- Average passwords per user in 2026: 120
- Peak average passwords per user (2024): 168
- Average work-related passwords in 2026: 67
- Average work-related passwords in 2024: 87
- Average passwords per user in early 2020: 80
Timeline
- Average managed passwords recorded at 80 per user.
- Password volume spikes to 100 per user due to pandemic-driven digital shift.
- Password volume reaches historic peak of 168 per user.
- Nord Security releases 2026 report showing first major decline in password count.