The Henley Passport Index for 2024 has been released, showcasing the latest global rankings of the world’s most travel-friendly passports.
About Henley Passport Index:
- The index ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.
- The rankings are provided by Henley & Partners, based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
- The index covers 227 destinations and 199 passports, offering a ‘Visa-free score‘ indicating the number of destinations accessible without a prior visa.
Key Findings of the Report:
Top Rankings:
- Most Powerful Passports (Visa-free score: 194): France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain share the top spot.
- Second Place (Visa-free score: 193): Finland, South Korea, and Sweden.
- Third Place (Visa-free score: 192): Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
India’s Performance:
- India has climbed to the 80th position (Visa-free score: 62).
- Indian passport holders have visa-free access to popular tourist destinations like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
Global Mobility Gap:
- The gap between the top and bottom-ranked passports is at an all-time high.
- The top-ranked countries enjoy visa-free access to 166 more destinations than Afghanistan (lowest-ranked, with access to 28 countries).
Other Notable Rankings:
- The United States and the United Kingdom ranked 7th and 4th respectively.
- In the Middle East, UAE ranked the highest at 11th.
- Neighboring countries of India: Maldives (58th), China (62nd), Bhutan (87th), Myanmar (92nd), Sri Lanka (96th), Bangladesh (97th), Nepal (98th).
Least Powerful Passports:
- Afghanistan (104th, Visa-free score: 28).
- Pakistan (101st), Iraq (102nd), and Syria (103rd).
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