US passport falls out of world’s top 10 most powerful list for first time

For the first time in two decades, the United States has dropped out of the world’s top 10 most powerful passports, according to the Henley Passport Index.

The latest quarterly ranking places the US in 12th position, tied with Malaysia, with visa-free access to 180 destinations out of 227 tracked globally.

Singapore retained the top spot with 193 visa-free destinations, followed by South Korea with 190 and Japan with 189.

The index, compiled by London-based Henley & Partners using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association, measures passport strength based on global mobility and visa-free access. Christian H. Kaelin, chair of Henley & Partners, said the US decline signals a shift in international influence.

“The declining strength of the US passport over the past decade is more than just a reshuffle in rankings; it signals a fundamental shift in global mobility and soft power dynamics,” Kaelin noted. “Nations that embrace openness and cooperation are surging ahead, while those resting on past privilege are being left behind.”

The fall follows several policy changes. Brazil in April withdrew visa-free access for US citizens, citing a lack of reciprocity. China, meanwhile, has expanded visa exemptions to many European countries but excluded the US. Adjustments in Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Somalia, and Vietnam have also eroded America’s standing.

Once ranked No.1 in 2014, the US had managed to cling to the top 10 as recently as July this year.

Its current slip leaves it trailing behind not just major Asian powers but also several European nations and Middle Eastern countries.

The UK passport also recorded its lowest-ever placement, dropping from sixth to eighth.

By contrast, China has surged upward, from 94th in 2015 to 64th this year, while the UAE has climbed 34 places to reach eighth position.

At the bottom of the index, Afghanistan remains the least powerful passport, offering visa-free access to just 24 destinations, 169 fewer than Singapore’s.