The Top Passports of 2025: US and UK Decline as India’s Status Improves
Singapore has the world’s strongest passport — again, according to the latest Henley Passport Index. The ranking, released Tuesday, shows the small nation-state retaining the top spot in the index after breaking a six-way tie for the accolade earlier this year. In 2024, Singapore shared the top ranking with Japan, Germany, Italy, Spain, and France.
The latest ranking shows Japan and South Korea tied for second place, while the other former No. 1 contenders are tied for third place with Denmark, Finland, and Ireland. The Henley Passport Index is a widely followed ranking of global passports that assesses passport strength by one metric — the number of destinations holders can visit without needing to obtain a prior visa. The index ranks countries based on data provided by the International Air Transport Association.
The ranking focuses mainly on ease of travel. Another relevant ranking, the Nomad Passport Index, evaluates passports by five criteria, including taxation, and is more focused on global citizenship. Henley’s latest ranking indicates that the U.S. passport has slipped to 10th place from 9th. The United Kingdom’s passport also moved down the list, landing in sixth place from fifth. This continues a “long-term downward trend” for both countries, which were once considered to have the most powerful passports in the world, according to Henley & Partners.
“Notably, the U.S. is now on the brink of exiting the Top 10 altogether for the first time in the index’s 20-year history,” the company stated. The top 10 list shows a ranking largely dominated by European countries but led by three key Asian economies:
- Singapore
- Japan
- South Korea
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Ireland
- Italy
- Spain
Singaporeans can access 193 countries without needing a visa, while those tied for the 10th spot can access 182, according to the ranking.
Biggest movers: India’s passport made the most significant leap in the past six months, rising to 77th from 85th, according to Henley & Partners. An analysis of the ranking over the past decade showed the UAE rising 34 places, marking it as the only “big riser” to break into the top 10 during this time. China also moved up 34 spots in the past 10 years, which is described as “particularly impressive,” especially given that China lacks visa-free access to Europe’s Schengen Area. Afghanistan’s passport remained last on the list, granting visa-free access to just 25 countries worldwide.
