World’s Most Powerful Passports 2024: India ranks at 82nd

According to the Henley Passport Index, Singapore’s passport is once again the most powerful in the world, granting visa-free entry to 195 amazing places. This position is a testament to Singapore’s robust diplomatic network and its citizens’ ease of movement around the world. India ranks 82nd, allowing visa-free entry to 58 countries.

Global Passport Rankings

• 1st Place: Singapore – 195 destinations
• Joint 2nd Place: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain – 192 destinations
• Joint 3rd Place: Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden – 191 destinations
• 4th Place: UK, Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland – 190 destinations
• 8th Place: USA – 186 destinations
• 82nd Place: India – 58 destinations (tied with Senegal and Tajikistan)

In 2014, the UK and USA jointly held first place in passport strength but have since declined in rankings. Notably, Afghanistan remains the weakest passport, offering access to only 26 countries.

Noteworthy Climbs and Drops

• UAE: Rose from 62nd to 9th, now with access to 185 destinations.
• China: Improved from 83rd to 59th, gaining access to 85 destinations.
• Ukraine: Jumped from 53rd to 30th with access to 148 destinations.
• Venezuela: Dropped from 25th to 42nd.
• Other countries like Yemen, Nigeria, and Syria also experienced declines.
• Bangladesh fell from 86th to 97th.

Access Discrepancies

There are large disparities in the strength of passports and the levels of openness in countries like as Nepal, Djibouti, Burundi, Sri Lanka, and Somalia. On the other hand, there is a substantial correlation between passport quality and access in nations like Barbados, Singapore, Barbados, Malaysia, and the Bahamas, where there are very few disparities.

About Henley Passport Index

The Henley Passport Index rates passports according to the amount of countries that do not require a visa in advance. It has been in operation since 2006 and gets its information from the IATA. At the top of the list, with access to 193 nations, are Japan and Singapore. Quarterly updates are made to the index. Afghans can visit only 27 countries without a visa, which is quite low. Discussions among governments regarding global mobility and travel freedom are impacted by the index. It also represents international accords and diplomatic ties.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2024

Category: Reports & Indexes Current Affairs