The world’s most powerful passports in 2024 revealed: European countries dominate the top 20, but it’s the UAE that’s No.1, while the UK and the U.S slide further down the ranking

0


The world’s most powerful passports for 2024 have been revealed – and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tops the charts for the fourth year in a row.

The global ranking indicates the number of countries citizens around the world can enter visa-free. Those living in the UAE have access to more than 90 per cent of the world and are able to visit 133 countries visa-free and 47 by virtue of a visa on arrival.

The rest of the top 20 is dominated by European countries, with 19 of the top 20 most powerful countries located in Europe. 

Spain overtakes Germany (5th) to become the second most powerful passport in the world, while Finland jumps into third place ahead of France (4th), Belgium (6th) and Italy (7th). France’s passport remains the strongest of the G20 nations. 

The UK ontinues to slide down the ranking, dropping 10 places from 22nd to 32nd in 2024. UK passport holders are able to visit 125 countries visa-free and 49 by virtue of a visa on arrival. It last held a place in the top 10 in 2017.  

The USA also sees its passport fall further in the index, falling from 27th to 38th. U.S citizens can visit 123 countries without a visa and 50 by virtue of a visa on arrival. The U.S last held a top 20 ranking in 2019. 

Arton Capital, which produced the ranking, says in a statement: ‘With the new Trump administration incoming, it remains to be seen what steps the U.S will take to stop the downgrade of its once-great passport. Currently the weakest passport in the G7 group of nations, Trump’s incoming administration has all the motivations to make the U.S passport great again.’ 

However, the American passport remains more powerful than its ‘greatest competitor’, China, whose passport ranks at 110 in the power index. 

The world's most powerful passports for 2024 have been revealed - and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tops the charts for the fourth year in a row

The world’s most powerful passports for 2024 have been revealed – and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tops the charts for the fourth year in a row

GLOBAL PASSPORT POWER INDEX 2024

MOST POWERFUL PASSPORTS 

1 . UAE (most powerful)

2. Spain 

3. Finland

4. France

5. Germany 

6. Belgium 

7. Italy 

8. Denmark 

9. Netherlands

10. Luxembourg 

11. Austria

12. Portugal 

13. Norway 

14. Switzerland 

15. Greece 

16. Ireland 

17. Sweden 

18. Poland

19. Hungary 

20. Czech Republic

21. South Korea

22. Estonia

23. Croatia

24. Slovakia

25. Japan

26. Slovenia

27. Latvia

28. New Zealand

29. Liechtenstein

30. Singapore 

31. Malta 

32. UK 

33. Canada

34. Lithuania

35. Romania

36. Bulgaria

37. Australia 

38. USA

39. Iceland 

40. Cyprus 

41. Malaysia

42. Monaco 

43. Brazil 

44. Argentina

45. Chile 

46. Andorra 

47. San Marino

48. Hong Kong

49. Brunei 

50. Israel 

51. Barbados 

52. Mexico 

53. Bahamas 

54. Uruguay 

55. Vatican City 

56. Ukraine 

57. Peru 

58. Saint Kitts and Nevis 

59. Seychelles 

60. St. Vincent and Grenadine 

61. Costa Rica 

62. Paraguay 

63. Antigua and Barbuda

64. Trinidad and Tobago

65. Macao 

66. Panama 

67. Mauritius 

68. Saint Lucia 

69. Colombia 

70. Grenada

71. Serbia

72. Solomon Islands

73. Georgia

74. Dominica

75. El Salvador 

76. North Macedonia

77. Guatemala 

78. Taiwan 

79. Honduras

80. Montenegro 

81. Samoa 

82. Tuvalu 

83. Tonga

84. Russian Federation 

85. Kiribati 

86. Turkey

87. Venezuela 

88. Marshall Islands

89. Bosnia and Herzegovina

90. Moldova 

91. Nicaragua

92. Albania 

93. Palau

94. Micronesia

95. Qatar 

96. Kuwait 

97. South Africa 

98. Ecuador 

99. Timor-Leste 

100. Saudi Arabia 

 

101. Bahrain 

102. Belize

103. Maldives

104. Jamaica 

105. Oman

106. Fiji 

107. Vanuatu 

108. Thailand 

109. Guyana

110. Kazakhstan

111. China 

112. Belarus 

113. Kosovo 

114. Indonesia

115. Nauru

116. Suriname

117. Bolivia

118. Azerbaijan 

119. Botswana

120. Papua New Guinea

121. Dominican Republic

122. Morocco

123. Armenia

124. Lesotho

125. Eswatini

126. Namibia

127. Malawi

128. Mongolia

129. Tunisia

130. Philippines 

131. Kenya

132. Cuba

133. Uzbekistan

134. Kyrgyzstan 

135. Tanzania

136. Zambia

137. Cape Verde

138. Ghana

139. Gambia

140. Uganda

141. Rwanda

142. India

143. Sao Tome and Principe 

144. Tajikistan 

145. Zimbabwe

146. Benin

147. Cambodia

148. Madagascar

149. Gabon 

150. Vietnam 

151. Algeria

152. Sierra Leone

153. Senegal

154. Burkina Faso 

155. Togo

156. Mozambique

157. Equatorial Guinea

158. Egypt 

159. Bhutan 

160. Turkemenistan 

161. Cote D’Ivoire 

162. Mauritania

163. Niger 

164. Jordan 

165. Guinea

166. Angola 

167. Comoros 

168. Mali 

169. Laos

170. Haiti 

171. Djibouti 

172. Guinea-Bissau 

173. Chad 

174. Central African Republic 

175. Cameroon 

176. Lebanon 

177. Myanmar

178. Liberia

179. Sri Lanka

180. Burundi 

181. Iran 

182. Congo 

183. Ethiopia 

184. Nigeria

185. Democratic Republic of Congo

186. Nepal 

187. South Sudan 

188. Eritrea

189. Sudan 

190. North Korea

191. Libya

192. Palestinian Territories

193. Bangladesh

194. Yemen 

195. Pakistan 

196. Somalia 

197. Iraq

198. Afghanistan 

199. Syria 

Source: Arton Capital  

South Korea’s passport is the strongest in Asia, despite falling from 17th to 21st, compared to last year’s ranking. Japan (25th) and Singapore (30th) are the next most powerful Asian passports. 

Further west in central Asia, Kazakhstan (114th) and Uzbekistan (140th) each climb this year’s ranking, in a trend continued from previous years. 

In the Middle East, conflict continues to negatively impact the mobility scores of the countries in the region, remarked Arton Capital, with governments tightening travel restrictions and visa issuances. 

The UK continues to slide down the ranking, dropping 10 places from 22nd to 32nd in 2024. UK passport holders are able to visit 125 countries visa-free and 49 by virtue of a visa on arrival

The UK continues to slide down the ranking, dropping 10 places from 22nd to 32nd in 2024. UK passport holders are able to visit 125 countries visa-free and 49 by virtue of a visa on arrival

HOW DOES THE PASSPORT RANKING WORK?

‘When countries possess equal scores, countries are ranked from then on in order of their Human Development Index (HDI) data that is set by the United Nations Development Programme. The HDI is a composite index measuring average achievement in three basic dimensions of human development: a long and healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living. Countries with higher HDI scores tend to have stronger passports, offering more visa-free access due to better living standards and a stronger international reputation.’ Arton Capital

Earlier this year, the statement points out, Schengen nations warned citizens against travelling to and from Israel and Palestine, while Israel temporarily stopped issuing visas to humanitarian workers.’ 

Hrant Boghossian, co-founder of the ranking, says: ‘The World Openness Score remained flat this year – the post-Covid recovery jump we noticed in the past few years is truly over.

‘Unsurprisingly, European passports are overwhelmingly the best ranked, ahead of larger economies like the United States and China. Nearly all countries in the Balkans experienced growth in their mobility this year, a positive trend in the region we hope will continue.

‘Geopolitical factors including elections and conflicts continue to influence global mobility. Despite this, we are still seeing countries collaborate and governments recognise the opportunities that visa-free agreements represent.’


Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.