U.S falls out of world’s most powerful passport top 10 for the first time
The United States (US) has dropped out of the world’s top ten most powerful passports for the first time, according to the latest Henley Passport Index.
The ranking which assesses global travel mobility, places the US in 12th position, tied with Malaysia.
The Henley Passport Index, compiled by Henley & Partners utilised data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), groups countries with the same access score together. As a result, 36 nations now outrank the US.
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Asian nations lead global mobility
At the top of the 2025 list are three Asian countries.
Singapore retains first place, offering visa-free access to 193 destinations worldwide.
South Korea follows with access to 190, while Japan ranks third with 189.
By contrast, American passport holders can travel visa-free to 180 out of 227 destinations, a figure matched by Malaysia.
From global leader to declining influence
Just over a decade ago, in 2014, the United States topped the index.
Even as recently as July 2025, it still managed to cling to the top ten. Its further decline has been attributed to a series of policy shifts by other countries.
In April, Brazil withdrew visa-free privileges for citizens of the US, Canada, and Australia, citing a lack of reciprocity. Meanwhile, China expanded its visa exemptions to include several European countries, such as France and Germany, but notably excluded the US.
Adjustments by Papua New Guinea and Myanmar have also reduced American mobility, while Somalia’s new e-visa system and Vietnam’s updated exemption list added further pressure.
“The declining strength of the US passport over the past decade is more than just a reshuffle in rankings, it signals a fundamental shift in global mobility and soft power dynamics,” said Christian H. Kaelin, chair of Henley & Partners.
“Nations embracing openness and cooperation are surging ahead, while those resting on past privilege are being left behind.”
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China’s rising influence and the UK’s decline
The UK passport, once a global leader, has also fallen to its lowest-ever ranking, sliding from sixth to eighth place since July.
China, on the other hand, has been steadily climbing. Over the past decade, it has risen from 94th in 2015 to 64th in 2025, gaining visa-free access to 37 additional destinations.
The report highlights Beijing’s active pursuit of diplomatic agreements, including new travel arrangements with Russia, Gulf states, South America, and several European countries, as part of its growing openness strategy.
Similarly, the United Arab Emirates has been one of the index’s biggest success stories, leaping 34 places over the past decade from 42nd to joint eighth.
The global mobility divide
At the bottom of the list, Afghanistan remains the least powerful passport in the world, granting visa-free access to just 24 destinations.
Syria follows with 26, and Iraq with 29. This represents a vast mobility gap of 169 destinations between the highest- and lowest-ranked passports.
Here are the top passports for 2024 according to Henley index:
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Top passports for 2025 (Henley index)
Singapore – 193 destinations
South Korea – 190
Japan – 189
Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland – 188
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Netherlands – 187
Greece, Hungary, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sweden – 186
Australia, Czech Republic, Malta, Poland – 185
Croatia, Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, UAE, United Kingdom – 184
Canada – 183
Latvia, Liechtenstein – 182
Iceland, Lithuania – 181
United States, Malaysia – 180
