What exactly does it mean to have a ‘powerful passport’? Well, in simple terms, it essentially means that your passport can get you pretty much wherever you want. A powerful passport is one that can get you to loads of countries – ideally without the need for a visa.
Every year, the Henley Passport Index ranks which little book of stamps can get you the furthest. The ranking uses data from the International Air Transport Association, ranking passports based on the number of countries they can be used to visit visa-free.
And top of the index this year is… Japan. Surprise, surprise. The country has long been near the very top of the ranking, with its passports allowing citizens to visit a whopping 193 countries without requiring a visa. Japan is followed by Singapore and South Korea, both of which get access to 192 countries.
The UK passport, meanwhile, is now able to visit 187 countries and comes in at number six – dropping one place from last year. The USA comes in at seven (186 countries) and Australia at eight (185).
Fascinatingly, the list often has a geopolitical tint. This year, for instance, Russia has fallen thanks to sanctions, travel bans and restrictions. Ukrainian passports, meanwhile, have climbed the table as countries have scrambled to provide safe haven for refugees. Ukraine ranks 35th in the list while Russia now sits at a lowly 50th. For ways to help the people of Ukraine right now, see our guide here.
The weakest passport, once again, is Afghanistan. Afghan people can only visit 27 countries without the need for a visa. Iraqi and Syrian passports rank similarly low.
Here are the top rankings, with the number of visa-free countries each passport will get you into:
- Japan, 193
- Singapore, South Korea, 192
- Germany, Spain, 190
- Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, 189
- Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden, 188
- France, Ireland, Portugal, United Kingdom, 187
- Belgium, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United States, 186
- Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Greece, Malta, 185
- Hungary, 183
- Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, 182
Read the full index here.
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