The average passport now opens the door to 108 destinations without a prior visa, compared with just 58 when the Henley Passport Index* was launched in 2006. Yet this dramatic expansion in international mobility has coincided with a steady deterioration in global peace.
The 20th-anniversary edition of the index, published on 21 July, places Singapore first, with access to 192 destinations. Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates share second place with 188.
“Passport power has expanded almost everywhere. But the freedom to cross borders remains distributed according to diplomatic capital, economic influence and geopolitical importance, rather than peace alone”
The UAE has recorded the most striking rise. Over two decades, its passport has added 153 destinations and climbed from the middle of the rankings to the global elite, reflecting the country’s expanding diplomatic, economic and strategic reach.
Britain has moved up one position to sixth following new visa-free access to China and Malawi. Canada ranks seventh, while the United States remains tenth and is among the few leading passport holders whose citizens still require a visa to enter China.
The improvement in global travel freedom contrasts sharply with the latest Global Peace Index**. The world is experiencing the highest number of state-based conflicts since the Second World War, while peacefulness has declined for a 12th consecutive year. Of the 163 countries assessed, 119 are less peaceful than they were in 2008.
The relationship between peace and passport strength remains significant. Stable countries such as Singapore, Japan, Ireland, Austria, Denmark and New Zealand perform strongly on both measures. Conflict-ridden states, including Afghanistan, Syria and Yemen, remain near the bottom of both rankings.
But peace is not the only source of mobility power. The United States, Israel, France, Ukraine and the UAE all possess passports that considerably outperform their peace rankings.
Israel ranks 159th on the Global Peace Index but 18th for passport strength. America ranks 134th for peace but tenth for mobility. Such disparities show that diplomatic influence, economic weight, regional integration and confidence in national institutions may matter as much as domestic tranquillity.
France provides a European example. Although ranked 99th for peacefulness, partly because the index measures militarisation and overseas conflict, it shares fourth place in the passport ranking. Schengen membership and extensive diplomatic ties give French citizens mobility far beyond what the country’s peace score might suggest.
The overall gains have also concealed a widening divide. In 2006, the gap between the strongest and weakest passports was 118 destinations. Today Singapore offers access to 192, while Afghanistan provides only 22, creating a record 170-destination gap.
Passport power has expanded almost everywhere. But the freedom to cross borders remains distributed according to diplomatic capital, economic influence and geopolitical importance, rather than peace alone.
