Having topped the rankings in 2014, the US passport is now ranked 9th, allowing its citizens to enter 186 countries and territories without a visa.
The index - published by UK-based firm Henley & Partners - is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and internal research. The ranking assesses 199 passports based on their ability to access 227 destinations around the world without a visa.
In 2025, the Singapore passport continues to be the world's top passport with visa-free access to 195 countries and territories. This is the second consecutive year that Singapore has held this position. Following Singapore is the Japanese passport, allowing entry to 193 destinations without a visa. Third place belongs to six countries: Finland, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea and Spain.
Notably, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the only Middle Eastern country to make the top 10. The UAE has risen 55 places in the rankings since 2010, confirming the country's strong growth in global reach.
Meanwhile, countries such as Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, Somalia and Nepal are at the bottom of the rankings. Afghan passport holders can only enter 26 countries visa-free, much lower than Singapore's 195.
The decline in the US passport’s position reflects the challenges of maintaining global access, compared to other countries with more extensive visa-free networks. Countries like Singapore and Japan continue to assert their passport power, offering their citizens superior freedom of movement.
