US Passport Falls to Historic Low in Global Ranking Pakistan Near Bottom
US Passport Hits Record Low in 2025 Global Rankings; Pakistan Among Bottom Four
In the latest update from the Henley Passport Index for 2025, the United States has dropped to 10th place—its lowest ranking in the index’s 20-year history. Once the top-ranked passport in 2014, the US now trails behind 33 countries in terms of global travel freedom.
The Henley Passport Index, compiled quarterly by London-based global citizenship advisory firm Henley & Partners, assesses the travel freedom of 199 passports based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). It evaluates how many countries passport holders can access without a prior visa, with the current rankings covering 227 destinations worldwide.
While the US struggles, Singapore continues its reign at No.1, with citizens enjoying visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 193 destinations, the highest of any country. South Korea has climbed to the No.2 spot, joining Japan with access to 190 destinations.
Several European Union nations dominate the No.3 tier, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Ireland, and Finland, each offering passport holders visa-free travel to 189 countries. The No.4 position is shared by Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden, with access to 188 destinations.
Greece, Switzerland, and New Zealand complete the top five with visa-free entry to 187 destinations.
Meanwhile, Pakistan ranks 96th out of 99—just ahead of only three other countries—tying with Somalia. Pakistani passport holders can access only 32 countries without a visa, reflecting limited global mobility for its citizens.
The stark contrast in passport power underscores growing disparities in global freedom of movement, as Asian and European countries strengthen their international access while others, including the US and Pakistan, see stagnation or decline.
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