Asian Nations Dominate Passport Power Ranking as US and UK Continue to Decline

LONDON,July 22, 2025/PRNewswire/ --Singaporeholds the crown as the world's most powerful passport, with visa-free access to 193 destinations out of 227 globally, according to the latest Henley Passport Index. The index is powered by exclusive Timatic data from theInternational Air Transport Association (IATA) and ranks all the world's passports based on the number of destinations their holders can enter without a prior visa. Asian nations continue to lead the global mobility race, withJapanandSouth Koreasharing 2ndplace, each granting their citizens access to 190 destinations visa-free.

A strong European contingent occupies the rest of the Top 5. Seven EU passports share 3rdplace —Denmark,Finland,France,Germany,Ireland,Italy, andSpain, all with access to 189 destinations. Another seven-nation European cohort, with visa-free entry to 188 destinations, are joint 4th—Austria,Belgium,Luxembourg,Netherlands,Norway,Portugal, andSweden— whileNew Zealand, the only nation to challenge the regional dominance, ties in 5thplace withGreeceandSwitzerland.

At the other end of the global mobility spectrum,Afghanistanremains at the bottom of the ranking, with its citizens able to access just 25 destinations without a prior visa — a staggering mobility gap of 168 destinations between the top- and bottom-ranked passports.

Biggest risers and fallers

The UK and US have each dropped a place in the global passport rankings since January, continuing a long-term downward trend. Once the most powerful passports in the world — the UK in 2015 and the US in 2014 — they now rank 6thand 10th, respectively. The UK currently has visa-free access to 186 destinations, while the US trails with 182. Notably, the US is now on the brink of exiting the Top 10 altogether for the first time in the index's 20-year history.

Dr.Christian H. Kaelin, the inventor of the passport index concept, says"traditional mobility champions are losing ground in an increasingly multi-polar world. As emerging economies liberalize their visa regimes and invest in diplomatic capital, legacy powers like the UK and the US appear to be retreating behind more restrictive entry policies."

The UAE continues to be a standout among the top risers, shooting up 34 places over the last 10 years from 42ndto 8thplace. Another notable winner isChina, also rising 34 places from 94thto 60thsince 2015 — particularly impressive considering that, unlike other top risers,Chinahas not yet gained visa-free access toEurope'sSchengen Area.

TheAsia-Pacificregion is also a leading driver of global travel. IATA's Director General,Willie Walsh, says overall demand for air travel showed strong 5.8% growth over the first five months of 2025, with some regional variations."Asia-Pacificairlines led the way with 9.5% growth. InNorth America, international traffic grew by 1.8%, but this was offset by a 1% contraction in the domestic market, leaving demand effectively flat over the period."

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SOURCE Henley& Partners