In the latest edition of the Henley Passport Index, the United States is now ranked as the 10th-most-powerful passport in the world, its lowest position in the 20-year history of the index.
The global passport ranking is based on the number of destinations a passport-holder can access without a visa. Singapore currently holds the top position, with visa-free access to 193 out of 227 destinations (the U.S.’ count is 182). The U.S., which held the No. 1 position back in 2014, has been on a years-long downward trend, and is currently outranked by 33 countries on the list (as multiple nations can have the same score).
Fast Facts: A Closer Look at the Henley Rankings
- The Henley Passport Index, drafted by Henley & Partners, is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Authority and is updated monthly. It covers 199 passports and 227 travel destinations.
- Asian and European nations currently dominate the top of the rankings. Following Singapore at No. 1 are Japan and South Korea at No. 2 (with visa-free access to 190 destinations), and Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain at No. 3 (with access to 189 destinations).
- At the other end of the spectrum is Afghanistan, which remains at the bottom of the list, with access to just 25 visa-free destinations.
- The United Kingdom and the U.S. have each dropped a place in the rankings since this past January, continuing a long-term downward trend.
- India has seen the biggest rankings jump recorded in the past six months, rising eight places from 85th to 77th.
- Saudi Arabia has made the biggest gain in visa-free access, adding four destinations since January and rising four places to 54th.
- A long-term view of the rankings reveals a trend toward greater overall openness and mobility between global nations. Over the past 10 years, more than 80 passports have climbed at least 10 places, according to the report, and the average number of destinations that travelers can access without a visa has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 109 in 2025. Noteworthy climbers over this timeframe include the UAE (which rose from 42nd to 8th over the decade) and China (which went from 94th to 60th).
Our Analysis: Traditional Passport Powerhouses Are Losing Out
The U.S. isn’t the only country falling in the rankings — the U.K., which took the No. 1 spot in 2015, now ranks sixth, while Canda has dropped four places in the last decade. The ongoing decline of visa-free travel for former frontrunners, including the U.S., may be the result of enacting more restrictive entry policies and engaging in fewer efforts toward mutually beneficial visa agreements with other nations. Without such diplomatic efforts, we should be prepared for more visa requirements to be implemented on Americans by countries around the world.
What They Are Saying: The Passport Rankings Reflect an Increasingly Competitive Landscape for Travel Mobility
“The consolidation we’re seeing at the top underscores that access is earned — and must be maintained — through active and strategic diplomacy,” said Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, inventor of the passport index concept. “Nations that proactively negotiate visa waivers and nurture reciprocal agreements continue to rise, while the opposite applies to those that are less engaged in such efforts.”
