For the first time in many years, Singapore has taken first place in the ranking of the world's most powerful passports. Today, its citizens can travel visa-free to 193 countries around the world.
Japan, which had ranked first in the Henley Passport Index for five consecutive years, fell to second place. It was joined there by Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland, France, South Korea, and Sweden. Passports from these countries allow visa-free entry to 190 countries around the world.
The Afghan passport remains the weakest in the world. It provides visa-free access to only 27 countries — 166 fewer than Singapore. Next come Iraq (29 countries) and Syria (30 countries). At the bottom of the ranking are Pakistan (33 countries), Yemen and Somalia (35 countries), Palestine and Nepal (38 countries), and North Korea (39 countries).
Belarus ranks 69th, with its citizens having visa-free access to 79 countries worldwide.
It is worth explaining how this ranking is compiled. "Participants" earn one point for each country that their citizens can visit without a visa or obtain a visa (including electronic travel authorization (ETA)) upon arrival.
Over the past 15 years, the average number of countries with "free entry" has almost doubled: from 58 to 109. Small island states, African countries, and Cambodia have the most open visa policies. There are 12 countries that offer visa-free entry for all 198 other passports in the world. Four more do not allow visa-free entry for any passport.
