Singapore currently holds the prestigious title of having the most powerful passport in the world, while Australia has moved up to the fifth spot on the list. This ranking grants citizens visa-free access to 189 destinations, as reported by the latest Henley Passport Index.
Despite the global trend towards greater travel freedom, there is currently a significant disparity between the most and least powerful passports in the world. Singapore, which was previously ranked joint-top with five other countries, now provides access to 169 more destinations than Afghanistan, which continues to hold the title of the weakest passport with only 26 visa-free destinations.
Countries with higher visa-free scores tend to have higher GDP per capita, increased foreign direct investment, and stronger international trade relationships, as indicated by the annual index.
France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain all tied for second place with visa-free access to 192 countries. Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Sweden, and South Korea followed closely behind in third place with visa-free access to 191 countries.
New Zealand has moved up to tie for fourth place in the rankings, while Australia narrowly surpassed Greece and Poland to tie with Portugal for the fifth spot.
On the other hand, the United States has continued its decline over the past decade, now ranked eighth with visa-free access to 186 destinations. Despite American passport holders having extensive access, the US only allows visa-free entry to 45 nationalities, placing it 78th on the Henley Openness Index.
One of the most significant changes in the 2024 rankings is the United Arab Emirates (UAE) entering the top 10 for the first time. The UAE’s passport now allows visa-free access to 185 destinations, a significant increase from its 62nd position in 2006.
World’s most powerful passports for 2024
1. Singapore: 195 destinations
2. France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain: 192 destinations
3. Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden: 191 destinations
4. Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom: 190 destinations
5. Australia, Portugal: 189 destinations
6. Greece, Poland: 188 destinations
7. Canada, Czechia, Hungary, Malta: 187 destinations
8. United States: 186 destinations
9. Estonia, Lithuania, United Arab Emirates: 185 destinations
10. Iceland, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia: 184 destinations
11. Croatia: 183 destinations
12. Liechtenstein, Malaysia: 182 destinations
13. Cyprus, Monaco: 178 destinations
14. Bulgaria, Romania: 177 destinations
15. Chile: 175 destinations
16. San Marino: 172 destinations
17. Andorra, Argentina, Brazil, Hong Kong (SAR China): 171 destinations
18. Israel: 166 destinations
19. Brunei: 166 destinations
20. Barbados: 165 destinations
Weakest Passports in the world 2024
90. Laos: 49 destinations
91: Congo (Dem. Rep.), Ethiopia: 46 destinations
92. Lebanon, Myanmar, Nigeria: 45 destinations
93. South Sudan, Sri Lanka: 44 destinations
94. Iran, Sudan: 43 destinations
95. Eritrea: 42 destinations
96. North Korea: 41 destinations
97. Bangladesh, Palestinian Territory: 40 destinations
98. Libya, Nepal: 39 destinations
99. Somalia: 35 destinations
100. Pakistan, Yemen: 33 destinations
101. Iraq: 31 destinations
102. Syria: 28 destinations
103: Afghanistan: 26 destinations
How passports are Ranked?
The Henley Passport Index evaluates the visa-free access of 199 passports to 227 travel destinations. A score of 1 is assigned to passports that do not require a visa, as well as those that can obtain a visa on arrival, a visitor’s permit, or an electronic travel authority when entering a destination.
A score of 0 is assigned in cases where a visa is mandatory, or if a passport holder must acquire a government-approved electronic visa (e-Visa) before traveling. This also includes situations where pre-departure government approval is necessary for a visa on arrival.
The overall score of each passport is determined by the number of destinations that do not require a visa, with each destination worth a value of 1.
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Sanya
- July 25, 2024
