Japan once again has the world’s most powerful passport for 2023, an honour the country has held for five years in a row.
According to data from the International Air Transport Association compiled by Henley & Partners, as of 2023, Japanese passport holders can visit 193 of 227 destinations visa free – that’s 85 per cent of the world.
South Korean and Singaporean passports are tied for second place with a visa-free score of 192.
A batch of European countries follow this trio of passports, including Germany and Spain, which are tied for third place, boasting a visa-free score of 190 countries worldwide. Finland, Italy and Luxembourg follow in fourth place with a score of 189. Austria, Denmark, Netherlands and Sweden landed in fifth place, scoring 188.
The UK and US are in places 6 and 7 with scores of 187 and 186, nearly a decade after jointly holding the top spot in 2014.
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Australia comes in at number eight, with the Aussie passport unlocking travel to 185 countries around the world.
Here are the world’s most powerful passports for 2023:
- Japan (193 locations)
- Singapore, South Korea (192 locations)
- Germany, Spain (190 locations)
- Finland, Italy, Luxembourg (189 locations)
- Austria, Denmark, Netherlands, Sweden (188 locations)
- France, Ireland, Portugal, United Kingdom (187 locations)
- Belgium, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United States (186 locations)
- Australia, Canada, Greece, Malta (185 locations)
- Hungary, Poland (184 locations)
- Lithuania, Slovakia (183 locations)
On the other end of the spectrum was Afghanistan, whose passport holders can only visit 27 destinations visa free, one more destination than in 2022.
It is followed by Iraq with a score of 29 and Syria with a score of 30.
The bottom of the ranking is filled out by Pakistan (32 destinations), Yemen (34 destinations), Somalia (35 destinations), Nepal and Palestinian Territories (38 destinations), and North Korea (40 destinations).
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The index finds that only 17 per cent of countries give their passport holders access to more than 80 per cent of the world without a visa.
Do you hold a dual citizenship? Which of your passports is more powerful? Why not share your thoughts in the comments section below?
