France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain Kick Off 2024 with the World’s Most Powerful Passport…
The Henley Passport Index’s latest ranking reveals that as of 2024, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain jointly hold the world’s most powerful passport, allowing visa-free entry to a remarkable 194 global destinations. The ranking, based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), showcases a shift in dominance, with European nations ascending in the rankings.
For the past five years, Japan and Singapore have consistently claimed the No. 1 spot, but this quarter’s ranking sees European nations making significant strides. Finland and Sweden, along with South Korea, are tied in second place, offering visa-free access to 193 destinations. The third position is secured by Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands, providing passport holders access to 192 destinations.
In contrast, India’s passport holds the 80th spot on the list, granting citizens visa-free travel to 62 countries, including popular tourist destinations such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. India shares its rank with Uzbekistan, while neighboring Pakistan is positioned at 101st.
Christian H. Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners and the creator of the passport index, highlighted the widening global mobility gap between countries. Despite an overall trend towards increased travel freedom over the past two decades, the disparity between the top and bottom of the index has reached an all-time high.
Mr. Kaelin noted, “The average number of destinations travellers can access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024.” He emphasised that the top-ranked countries now enjoy the privilege of travelling to an astonishing 166 more destinations visa-free than Afghanistan, which occupies the bottom spot on the list, with access to just 28 countries without a visa. Syria, with visa-free access to only 29 destinations, holds the second-lowest position, followed by Iraq with 31 and Pakistan with 34.
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