Passport is one of the essential documents for international travel, and a strong passport can greatly enhance your travel freedom. According to the “Henley Passport Index” released on Wednesday, January 8, in 2025, the United States ranks ninth in the global strongest passport ranking, Taiwan ranks 33rd, and mainland China ranks 60th. European countries dominate the top ten rankings.
The “Henley Passport Index” is an authoritative ranking of global passports that tracks global freedom for 227 countries and regions. The index is created by the international citizenship and residence consultancy firm “Henley & Partners” headquartered in London based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). IATA’s data is the world’s largest and most accurate travel information database.
In the 2025 global strongest passport ranking, Singapore tops the list. Holders of Singaporean passports can travel visa-free to 195 countries and regions. Japan ranks second, with Japanese citizens having visa-free access to 193 countries and regions.
Taiwan ranks 33rd with passport holders having visa-free access to 141 countries and regions; China ranks 60th with Chinese citizens having visa-free access to 85 countries and regions; Hong Kong ranks 18th with visa-free access to 171 countries and regions.
Compared to the 2024 rankings, the United States dropped one spot in the 2025 rankings, now standing at ninth place.
Regionally, European countries dominate the top ten spots. Here are the top ten countries on the list, along with the number of countries and regions they have visa-free access to:
1. Singapore (195)
2. Japan (193)
3. Finland, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, Spain (192)
4. Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden (191)
5. Belgium, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland, United Kingdom (190)
6. Australia, Greece (189)
7. Canada, Malta, Poland (188)
8. Czech Republic, Hungary (187)
9. Estonia, United States (186)
10. Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates (185)
At the other end of the list, Afghanistan ranks last at 106th. Holders of Afghan passports can only travel visa-free to 26 countries and regions; Syria ranks second to last, with citizens having visa-free access to 27 countries; Iraq ranks third to last with visa-free access to 31 countries and regions; tied for fourth to last are Yemen and Pakistan, with visa-free access to 33 countries and regions; Somalia ranks fifth to last, with visa-free access to 35 countries and regions.
It is worth noting that the power of a passport not only reflects the holder’s identity and nationality but also serves as a tool to provide global opportunities, mobility, and improved quality of life.
Some passports open doors to many countries for people, while others can only provide limited travel freedom. Holders of less powerful passports face challenges such as limited travel opportunities and the need to apply for numerous visas.