The Henley Passport Index (HPI) for 2024 is here and it has revealed the countries that have the world’s most powerful passports this year.
The list which ranks the most travel-friendly passports globally is packing some shockers this year. While Asian nations like Japan and Singapore have held the title of countries with the world’s most powerful passports for the past five years, 2024 has an unprecedented six countries tied for the #1 spot.
European nations such as France, Germany, Italy and Spain, as well as Aisa’s Japan and Singapore shared the top spot on the list this year.
An initiative by London-based firm Henley & Partners, the HPI ranks different passports according tot he number of destinations their holders can visit without a visa. These rankings are based on analysis of data provided by the International Air Transport Association.
The citizens of the countries at the top spot on the list can travel visa-free to a whopping 194 countries around the world. Finland, Sweden and South Korea, the countries that occupy the second spot can access 193 countries without a visa. Citizens of Austria, Denmark, Ireland and Netherlands can visit 192 destinations visa-free and occupy the third spot on the list.
There’s also good news for Indians in 2024. Our country has moved up from its previously occupied #84 spot to the 80th position, as we can travel to 62 destinations sans visa.
Christian H. Kaelin, chair of Henley & Partners and the creator of the HPI, said in a statement that the global mobility gap between those at the top and bottom of the list is now wider than ever.
“The average number of destinations travelers are able to access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024,” he said, “However, the top-ranked countries are now able to travel to a staggering 166 more destinations visa-free than Afghanistan, which sits at the bottom of the ranking with access to just 28 countries without a visa.”
What do you think?
