Singapore’s passport has been recognized as the world’s most powerful travel document for 2024, granting visa-free access to an impressive 195 destinations. This ranking comes from the Henley Passport Index, a quarterly assessment by Henley & Partners, a global citizenship and residence advisory firm based in London. The Index, which has been tracking global travel freedoms for 19 years, relies on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to provide its rankings.
Leading the Rankings
Following Singapore in the top spots are the passports of Japan, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, each offering visa-free travel to 192 destinations. These countries share the No. 2 position in the rankings. In third place are South Korea, Sweden, Finland, Austria, Ireland, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, all of which allow access to 191 destinations without a visa.
The United Kingdom, which once shared the top ranking with the United States in 2014, now stands at fourth place with visa-free access to 190 destinations. It is joined by New Zealand, Norway, Belgium, Denmark, and Switzerland.
Australia and Portugal occupy the fifth position, each passport providing access to 189 destinations. The United States, which has seen a decline from its previous top rankings, is now in eighth place, with a passport that offers visa-free access to 186 destinations.
Widening Gaps in Global Mobility
Singapore’s achievement marks a new record for both the nation and the Henley Passport Index, highlighting a widening gap in global mobility. At the lower end of the scale, Afghanistan’s passport now ranks as the weakest globally, with access to only 26 destinations without a visa—the lowest score recorded in the Index’s nearly two-decade history.
Christian Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, noted, “The global average number of visa-free destinations has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024. However, the gap between the most and least powerful passports is now wider than ever.”
Air Travel and Economic Implications
This year, it is estimated that nearly five billion people will take to the skies across 39 million flights, according to IATA. Despite the increase in travel, the real cost of air travel has decreased by over a third, with airlines’ profit per passenger averaging just over $6—barely enough to cover a single espresso in a typical hotel café, according to IATA Director General Willie Walsh.
Challenges for African Travelers
In Africa, mobility challenges are particularly acute. Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, highlighted at the Africa CEO Forum in Kigali that he needs 35 visas to travel across the continent, significantly more than a European traveler. Research by Mehari Taddele Maru, Adjunct Professor at the School of Transnational Governance at the European University Institute, reveals that approximately 30% of African Schengen visa applicants face rejection, compared to about 10% worldwide. Maru points out, “The European visa system demonstrates a pre-determined bias against African applicants, who face lower passport power, higher rejection rates, and consequently, limited economic mobility.”
Other Passport Indexes
Henley & Partners’ Index is not the only one evaluating passport strength. Arton Capital’s Passport Index, which tracks passports from 193 UN member countries and six territories, currently ranks the United Arab Emirates at the top with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 179. Spain follows with a score of 178, while France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, and Switzerland share third place with a score of 177.
Top Passports for 2024
- Singapore – 195 destinations
- France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain – 192 destinations
- Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden – 191 destinations
- Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom – 190 destinations
- Australia, Portugal – 189 destinations
- Greece, Poland – 188 destinations
- Canada, Czechia, Hungary, Malta – 187 destinations
- United States – 186 destinations
- Estonia, Lithuania, United Arab Emirates – 185 destinations
- Iceland, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia – 184 destinations
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