US passport slips to 10th in global power rankings
The U.S. passport has reached its lowest-ever rank in the 20-year history of the Henley Passport Index, now positioned 10th globally.Once regarded as the world's strongest passport in 2014, the U.S. now ranks behind 33 other nations when considering tied scores.
The index, produced quarterly by the London-based firm Henley & Partners, assesses passport strength based on the ability to travel visa-free to 227 worldwide destinations, using information from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Singapore holds onto its top spot in the 2025 rankings, with its passport allowing visa-free access to 193 countries—more than any other nation. Following closely are South Korea and Japan, ranked second with access to 190 destinations.
European nations dominate the third and fourth positions, with countries like France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands providing visa-free entry to at least 188 countries.
In sharp contrast, Afghanistan sits at the bottom in 99th place, with its citizens allowed entry to only 25 nations without requiring a visa.
Syria (27) and Iraq (30) complete the bottom three, illustrating a significant global "mobility gap" of over 160 destinations between the top-ranked and lowest-ranked passports.
The United Kingdom has slipped to sixth place, as the United Arab Emirates, one of the fastest rising contenders in the index, now occupies the eighth position—up from 42nd a decade ago.
China has made considerable progress as well, moving from 94th to 60th since 2015, despite having limited access to the Schengen Area in Europe.
The U.S. now shares its 10th position with Iceland and Lithuania, offering visa-free access to 182 countries. Its decline follows recent policy shifts, including the implementation of a controversial $250 "visa integrity fee" for foreign visitors, which critics argue could discourage international travelers.
Christian H. Kaelin, chair of Henley & Partners, points to active diplomacy as the reason for the changing rankings. "Access is earned — and must be maintained," he stated. "Countries that negotiate visa waivers and engage in strategic diplomacy continue to advance. Those that don’t, fall behind."
Other rankings confirm comparable trends. Arton Capital’s 2025 Passport Power Rank, which is updated in real-time, places the UAE at the top, followed by Spain. Their methodology considers territories that Henley's count excludes, like Kosovo and Hong Kong.
The strongest passports for 2025 are as follows:
1. Singapore (193 destinations)
2. Japan, South Korea (190)
3. Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain (189)
4. Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden (188)
5. Greece, New Zealand, Switzerland (187)
6. United Kingdom (186)
7. Australia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland (185)
8. Canada, Estonia, United Arab Emirates (184)
9. Croatia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia (183)
10. Iceland, Lithuania, United States (182)
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