If you hold a passport from Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Germany, Italy, and Spain, congrats! You carry the world’s most travel-friendly passports and can travel visa-free or visa-on-arrival to more than 190 countries around the world.
That’s according to the Henley Passport Index, a quarterly ranking of the most powerful passports in the world based on the number of countries a passport holder can enter without needing a visa. The Index uses data from the International Air Travel Association (IATA), and analyzes 199 passports and 277 destinations.
Singapore toppled Japan as the most powerful passport in 2023, with visa-free access to 194 destinations, equivalent to 85% of the world. Japan came in second place, granting access to 192 destinations.
Germany tied with Italy, South Korea, and Spain in third place, followed by Austria, Finland, Luxembourg, and Sweden in fourth. The United States fell from seventh to ninth place, evidence of how much the power of the U.S. passport has dropped in recent years. In 2015, the United States was the second most powerful passport in the world, with the United Kingdom in the number one spot.
The 10 Most Powerful Passports in the World
1. Singapore (194 destinations)
2. Japan (192 destinations)
3. Germany, Italy, South Korea, and Spain (191 destinations)
4. Austria, Finland, Luxembourg, and Sweden (190 destinations)
5. Denmark, France, Ireland, Netherlands, United Kingdom (189 destinations)
6. Belgium, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, and Switzerland (188 destinations)
7. Australia, Malta (187 destinations)
8. Canada, Greece, Hungary, and Poland (186 destinations)
9. United States (185 destinations)
10. Lithuania, Slovakia (184 destinations)
If you’re curious to see where your passport ranks, the Henley Passport Index allows you to search the list by passport type.