The world’s most (and least) powerful passports in 2024

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The world’s most (and least) powerful passports in 2024

October 14, 2024

Henley & Partners has revealed which countries now hold the world's most powerful passports, the surprising risers in the ranks, and what this means for international relations and global mobility in 2024. Olivia Palamountain reports

In an unprecedented development, six countries have claimed the top position in the 2024 Henley Passport Index, offering their citizens visa-free access to a record-breaking 194 destinations out of 227 globally.

Four EU member states - France, Germany, Italy, and Spain - join Asian powerhouses Japan and Singapore in possessing the world's most powerful passports.

The index, based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), has been compiled by Henley&Partners for 19 years.

Dr Christian H. Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners and creator of the passport index concept, notes that while global mobility has generally increased over time, the gap between the most and least powerful passports has widened significantly.

"The average number of destinations travellers can access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024," Dr Kaelin explains. "However, top-ranked countries can now travel to 166 more destinations visa-free than Afghanistan, which sits at the bottom of the ranking with access to just 28 countries without a visa."

South Korea shares second place with Finland and Sweden, allowing visa-free travel to 193 destinations.

The UK has climbed two ranks to fourth place, with visa-free access to 191 destinations, up from 188 a year ago, while the US maintains its seventh place position with access to 188 destinations without requiring a prior visa.

The United Arab Emirates remains the most improved country over the past decade, adding 106 destinations to its visa-free score since 2014 and leaping from 55th to 11th position. Ukraine and China have also seen significant improvements, both climbing 21 places in the past ten years.

Henley & Partners' research also reveals a strong correlation between economic performance, passport power, and countries hosting investment migration programmes. Nearly 60% of G7 countries, which account for 30% of global GDP, offer some form of residence or citizenship by investment programme.

Dr Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, emphasises the potential of investment migration programmes: "They enhance the sovereign equity of the host nation without requiring compromise on strategic objectives. Investment migration is a win-win, long-term, sustainable solution for all stakeholders."

The most powerful passports in 2024

Here are the top 10 rankings for the most powerful passports in 2024, and the number of other countries these passport holders can visit, without having to obtain a visa in advance.

1. France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain (194 destinations)

2. Finland, South Korea, Sweden (193 destinations)

3. Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands (192 destinations)

4. Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom (191 destinations)

5. Greece, Malta, Switzerland (190 destinations)

6. Australia, Czechia, New Zealand, Poland (189 destinations)

7. Canada, Hungary, United States (188 destinations)

8. Estonia, Lithuania (187 destinations)

9. Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia (186 destinations)

10. Iceland (185 destinations)

The least powerful passports in 2024

1. Afghanistan (28 destinations)

2. Syria (29 destinations)

3. Iraq (31 destinations)

4. Pakistan (34 destinations)

5. Yemen (35 destinations)

 

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