Most Powerful Passports in 2023

The Henley Passport Index measures visa-free access to 227 destinations across the world. It ranks the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. 

I am aware that there are other International Indexes which measure different criteria’s. But I decided to choose Henley because they are the Gold standard due to their reputation of using official data from their global database since 2006. 

A key finding from the index is what they call the “direct link between passport strength and access to the global economy.”For example, the Singapore passport gives visa-free access to 192 destinations, which accounts for a whopping 98% of the global economy. 

Photo by ConvertKit on Unsplash 

On the other end, citizens of the index’s lowest-ranking countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria are effectively shut out of various opportunities for economic mobility and growth.

Despite Japan having one of the most powerful passports, fewer than 20% of Japanese people actually have passports, This is according to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Passport power is not fully determined by military power or wealth of a country, which can be seen with China and the USA.

Regardless of their status as Superpowers with the largest economies respectively, they were unable to make it onto the top 3 list of Powerful passports. 

The 7 conditions for VISA free status:

1.History of political conflict

2.Democracy and transparency level

3.Economic condition of the country

4.Number of populations

5.Potential number of tourists

6.Health & education level of the citizens

Overall a countries passport power is determined by how well it fits within the framework of the international system, which is shaped historically through, alliances, treaties and informal rules.

One of those informal rules which I think have dominated the 21st Century is Soft-Power, which is a countries ability to influence and spread positive cultural messages to other nations. America being the Godfather of this phenomenon, have lost this soft-power ability over the years.

Photo by Jezael Melgoza on Unsplash

East-Asian nations such has South Korea, Japan and Singapore have transformed their nations into Soft-Power Masters. The Geo-Political impacts of being seen in a positive light by other nations is an important aspect of globalisation.

The best passports to hold:

1.Singapore (192)

2.Germany, Italy, Spain (190)

3.Austria, Finland, France Japan, Luxembourg, South Korea, Sweden (189)

4.Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands, UK (188)

5.Belgium, Czechia, Malta, New Zealand, Portugal, Switzerland (187) 

6.Australia, Hungary, Poland (186)

7.Canada, Greece (185)

8.Lithuania, United States (184)

9.Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia

10.Estonia, Ireland (182)

52.South Africa (106)

The worst passports to hold:

102.Syria (30)

103.Iraq (29)

104.Afghanistan (27)