Singapore’s passport has been officially recognized as the world’s most powerful travel document, granting holders visa-free access to 195 destinations. This prestigious ranking was revealed in the latest quarterly update of the Henley Passport Index, which evaluates global passport strength based on visa-free access to countries.
Henley Passport Index Overview
For 19 years, the Henley Passport Index, created by the London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners, has been monitoring global freedoms across 227 countries and territories. The index relies on exclusive data provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to assess passport strength.
Top Competitors: Japan, Germany, and Others
Following Singapore, the passports of Japan, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain closely trail, holding the No.2 position. Citizens of these countries enjoy visa-free access to 192 destinations. In third place are South Korea, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Ireland, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, with access to 191 destinations.
UK and US Passport Rankings
The United Kingdom, which shared the top ranking with the United States in 2014, now ranks fourth with access to 190 destinations. This position is shared with New Zealand, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, and Switzerland. Australia and Portugal are tied for fifth place, offering visa-free travel to 189 destinations. The United States, once a leader, has fallen to eighth place with access to 186 destinations.
The Expanding Global Mobility Gap
While Singapore’s record of 195 visa-free destinations highlights its exceptional global mobility, other countries are experiencing diminishing access. Afghanistan remains the lowest-ranking passport, with access to only 26 destinations, the weakest score in the index’s nearly two-decade history.
Remarks on Global Mobility Trends
Christian Kaelin, chair of Henley & Partners, commented on the expanding gap in global mobility: “The global average number of destinations travelers can access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024. However, the disparity between the strongest and weakest passports has reached unprecedented levels.”
Air Travel Trends and Costs
According to IATA estimates, nearly five billion people are expected to travel by air this year, across 39 million flights. Despite the high volume of air travel, IATA director general Willie Walsh notes that the real cost of air travel has decreased significantly. Airlines’ profit per passenger averages just over $6, a sum Walsh describes as “barely enough for a single espresso in a typical hotel café.”