Global Passport Power Rankings: The U.S. Drops Below the Top 10
For the first time in over twenty years, the United States passport has slipped out of the top ten most powerful passports worldwide, now positioned at 12th place on the Henley Passport Index. This ranking evaluates passports based on how many countries their holders can enter without requiring a visa.
Current Rankings and Travel Freedom Comparison
American passport holders currently enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 180 countries, placing them on par with Malaysia in terms of travel freedom. This represents a decline from earlier in 2025 when the U.S. was ranked ninth in January and dropped to tenth by July.
The most powerful passport today belongs to Singaporean citizens, who can visit an extraordinary 193 destinations without needing a visa-13 more then Americans can access freely. Back in 2014, both the United States and United Kingdom shared first place; since then, Britain has also fallen to eighth position.
Factors Influencing Passport Strength
the Henley Passport Index bases its rankings on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), measuring global mobility as an indicator of a nation’s soft power abroad. Passports that allow broader entry without visas reflect stronger diplomatic ties and international openness.
Succeeding Singapore at number one are South Korea with access to 190 countries and Japan close behind with entry into 189 destinations. Despite its historical prominence, the U.S. ranks just below lithuania and Iceland.
Reasons Behind America’s Declining Passport Influence
A key reason for america’s drop is limited reciprocity: although Americans can enter many countries visa-free,only about 46 nationalities receive similar privileges when entering the U.S., placing it near last globally for openness at number 77-just ahead of Iraq.
This imbalance results partly from recent policy changes such as Brazil revoking its visa waiver for American travelers earlier this year and China removing American passport holders from its expanding list of visa-exempt entrants. Additionally, new eVisa systems introduced by Somalia and Vietnam excluding Americans have further weakened U.S. standing.
A Reflection of Broader Geopolitical Shifts
“The diminishing influence of the American passport over recent years signals more than just shifting rankings-it underscores evolving global mobility patterns closely tied to diplomatic engagement,” experts observe when analyzing these trends.
The World’s Most Powerful Passports today
The following list ranks passports according to how many countries their holders may enter without obtaining a prior visa:
- Singapore: Access to 193 destinations
- South Korea: Access to 190
- Japan: Access to 189
- Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, spain, Switzerland: Access to 188
- Austrian bloc (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Netherlands): (187)
- (Greece,hungary,new Zealand,Norway ,Portugal ,Sweden): (186)
- (Australia,Czechia Malta Poland): (185)
- (Croatia Estonia Slovakia Slovenia UAE UK): (184)
