The Henley Passport Index for 2024 has been released, revealing a significant shake-up in the rankings. For the first time ever, six nations share the top spot, including Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Singapore, and Spain. These countries’ passports allow visa-free access to 194 destinations out of 227 worldwide.
The Henley Passport Index is an annual ranking that evaluates passports based on the number of visa-free destinations they provide access to. The index uses data from the International Air Transport Association and considers 199 national passports. Each passport is scored based on the number of countries that can be accessed without visas or with easy visa processes.
If no visa is required or if a visa can be obtained on arrival, a value of 1 is added to the passport’s score. On the other hand, if a visa is required or if a passport holder needs to obtain a government-approved e-visa before departure, a value of 0 is added to the score.
In recent years, the rankings have seen little change, with Japan consistently holding the top spot for five years in a row. However, this year marks a significant shift as Japan is joined by five other countries at the top. South Korea, Finland, and Sweden narrowly miss out on the top position, allowing passport holders access to 193 destinations without visas.
The United States remains in seventh place, providing visa-free access to 188 destinations. The United Kingdom, on the other hand, has climbed two places to secure the fourth spot alongside Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, and Portugal. These countries allow access to 191 nations without visas.
Notably, the United Arab Emirates has seen a significant climb in the rankings over the past decade. The country has added 106 destinations to its score since 2014, moving up 44 places to the 11th spot. Ukraine and China have also made impressive gains, each gaining 21 places in the last decade. Ukraine currently ranks 32nd with 148 visa-free destinations, while China ranks 62nd with 85 destinations.
At the bottom of the rankings, Afghanistan holds the least powerful passport, providing visa-free access to only 28 destinations.
According to Dr. Christian H. Kalin, the chairman of Henley & Partners and the inventor of the passport index concept, the average number of visa-free destinations has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024. However, the top-ranked countries now have access to 166 more destinations than Afghanistan, which sits at the bottom of the ranking.
The top 10 most powerful passports for 2024 are as follows:
1. France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain (194)
2. Finland, South Korea, Sweden (193)
3. Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands (192)
4. Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, U.K. (191)
5. Greece, Malta, Switzerland (190)
6. Australia, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Poland (189)
7. Canada, Hungary, U.S. (188)
8. Estonia, Lithuania (187)
9. Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia (186)
10. Iceland (185)
On the other hand, the 10 least powerful passports for 2024 are:
1. Afghanistan (28)
2. Syria (29)
3. Iraq (31)
4. Pakistan (34)
5. Yemen (35)
6. Somalia (36)
7. Libya, Nepal, Palestinian Territories (40)
8. Bangladesh, North Korea (42)
9. Eritrea, Sri Lanka (43)
10. Iran, Lebanon, Nigeria, Sudan (45)
In conclusion, the Henley Passport Index for 2024 reveals a significant shift in the rankings, with six countries sharing the top spot. The United States and the United Kingdom continue to hold strong positions, providing visa-free access to a considerable number of destinations. The index highlights the increasing importance of visa-free travel and the significant disparities between the most and least powerful passports.