The World’s Most (and Least) Powerful Passports in 2024
LONDON, Jan. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on exclusive and official data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), six countries share the top spot in the 2024 Henley Passport Index with an unprecedented number of visa-free destinations. Four of them are European Union member states—France, Germany, Italy, and Spain—along with Japan and Singapore, collectively earning the title of the world’s most powerful passports. Their citizens can access 194 destinations visa-free out of 227 countries/territories worldwide. Over the past five years, Japan and Singapore, both Asian countries, have consistently ranked first in the index (which ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can visit without a prior visa).
Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, noted that while the overall global trend over the 19-year history of the index has been toward greater travel freedom, the global travel gap between the top and bottom of the rankings is now wider than ever. "The average number of destinations travelers can access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024. However, as the new year begins, the top-ranked country enjoys 166 more visa-free destinations than Afghanistan, which sits at the bottom of the index with access to just 28 destinations."
South Korea, an Asian tiger, shares the second spot with Finland and Sweden, offering visa-free access to 193 destinations. In addition, four EU countries—Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands—are tied for third place, with visa-free access to 192 countries/territories. The rest of the top 10 is largely dominated by European nations. The United Kingdom has moved up two places to fourth, now able to visit 191 destinations visa-free, compared to 188 a year ago. Both Australia and New Zealand have risen in the rankings to sixth place, with visa-free access to 189 destinations, while the United States remains in seventh place, with access to 188 destinations. It has been a decade since the UK and the US jointly topped the index in 2014.
Over the past decade, the United Arab Emirates remains the biggest climber in the Henley Passport Index, having added 106 visa-free destinations since 2014, jumping 44 places from 55th to 11th.
Ukraine and China are both among the top five most-improved countries over the past 10 years (each having gained a net 21 destinations) and have each moved up two places in the last year. Ukraine now ranks 32nd with 148 visa-free destinations, while China ranks 62nd with visa-free access to 85 destinations (compared to just 44 in 2014). Over the same decade, Russia has added a net 24 destinations, and its visa-free score and ranking remain almost unchanged from 2017; it now sits in 51st place, with visa-free access to 119 destinations.
Today, award-winning journalist and author Misha Glenny commented on the Henley Global Mobility Report 2024 Q1, which is released alongside the latest Henley Passport Index, offering just one piece of advice for the new year: prepare for greater uncertainty. "In 2024, 40 countries/territories representing over 50% of global GDP will hold major elections, including the United States and several other significant nations. Political trends suggest a lack of geopolitical coordination, increasing the risk of potential shocks to an already fragile economic environment. Yet the overall trend remains stable. There is a decline in U.S. and European influence, and a power struggle among Asian heavyweights."
The report includes not only expert commentary on key global mobility and migration trends for 2024 but also exclusive new research on the relationship between economic performance, visa-free access, and openness to international trade, investment, and skills exchange. Professor Trevor Williams, former Chief Economist at Lloyds Bank, said the data contains "profound insights into what is driving economic possibility across the globe."
