Based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Henley Passport Index 2026 ranks all global passports by the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.
Singapore retains its position as the world’s most powerful passport, offering visa-free access to 192 destinations.
At the opposite end, Afghanistan once again ranks last, with access to just 24 destinations.
The resulting 168-destination gap illustrates the scale of global mobility inequality in 2026 – a dramatic widening since 2006, when the difference between the then top-ranking U.S. passport and Afghanistan was only 118 destinations.
“Over the past 20 years, global mobility has expanded significantly, but the benefits have been distributed unevenly,” says Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman at Henley & Partners.
“Today, passport privilege plays a decisive role in shaping opportunity, security and economic participation.”
Japan and South Korea rank joint second in 2026, with Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland following in third place ahead of an unprecedented group of 10 European countries tied for fourth.
Australia remains in the world’s top 10, coming in at seventh, with New Zealand one place ahead in sixth.
The U.S. has returned to the top 10 after briefly dropping out in late 2025, but this recovery masks a longer-term decline for both the U.S. and the UK, which jointly held first place in 2014.
“Passport power ultimately reflects political stability, diplomatic credibility, and the ability to shape international rules,” says Misha Glenny, award-winning journalist and Rector of the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna.
“As transatlantic relations strain and domestic politics grow more volatile, the erosion of mobility rights for countries like the U.S. and UK is less a technical anomaly than a signal of deeper geopolitical recalibration.”
IATA forecasts that airlines will carry more than 5.2 billion passengers globally this year.
“A record number of people are expected to travel in 2026,” says IATA Director General Willie Walsh.
“But as many governments look to tighten their borders, technological advances such as digital ID and digital passports should not be overlooked by policymakers. Convenient travel and secure borders are possible.”
