Henley Passport Index: US Drops Out Of Top 10 For First Time

The latest Henley Passport Index reveals a major shift in global mobility, confirming that the United States passport has dropped out of the world’s top 10 for the first time since the index began. The measure of a passport’s power is defined by the number of countries its holders can access without requiring a prior visa. In the current ranking, the US passport now sits in 12th position, granting its citizens visa-free access to 180 destinations. This marks a significant decline from 2014, when the United States held the number one spot.

The list is now dominated by Asian nations: Singapore tops the ranking with access to 193 countries, followed by South Korea with 190 destinations and Japan with 189. The US position has descended due to increasingly tightened visa rules and a complicated screening process it imposes on other nations. This contrasts with the leading countries, which maintain strong, reciprocal diplomatic relations. The United Kingdom, which also once held the top spot, has similarly seen its ranking fall. At the same time, China's passport strength has ascended remarkably. The country has climbed significantly from the 94th position in 2015 to 64th in the latest report.