The United States passport has dropped to 10th place in the latest global passport rankings, marking a sharp decline from its position as the world’s most powerful passport two decades ago, according to a new Forbes report by Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, citing the Henley Passport Index.
The latest rankings show that American passport holders can travel visa-free or obtain a visa on arrival in 180 destinations, placing the U.S. in a tie with Iceland. While still among the world’s strongest passports, it now trails 36 countries because multiple nations share the higher-ranking positions.
Singapore retained the top spot, with its citizens enjoying visa-free access to 192 destinations, followed by Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates, each with access to 188 countries.
The report highlights how dramatically the U.S. passport’s standing has changed over time. In 2006, the United States shared the world’s No. 1 position with Finland and Denmark, allowing access to 130 destinations without a visa. It slipped to fourth place by 2016, seventh in 2021, and now ranks 10th.
According to the Henley Passport Index, passport strength is measured by the number of destinations citizens can visit without obtaining a visa in advance, making it an important indicator of global mobility and soft power.
One reason cited for the U.S. decline is a lack of reciprocity. While Americans enjoy visa-free access to 180 destinations, the United States grants visa-free entry to citizens of only 46 countries, placing it 73rd on the Henley Openness Index. The report notes that the U.S. is now among the few highly ranked passport holders whose citizens still require a visa to travel to China.
The changing rankings have also fuelled growing interest among wealthy Americans in obtaining second passports or foreign residency.
According to the Forbes report, Henley & Partners recorded a 183% year-on-year increase in inquiries from U.S. nationals seeking alternative citizenship or residency in the first quarter of 2025, following Donald Trump’s election to a second presidential term.
The report also cites data from Apex Capital Partners, which found that 61% of Americans earning more than $200,000 annually are considering relocating abroad within the next five years.
Henley & Partners Chairman Dr Christian Kaelin, creator of the Henley Passport Index, said families increasingly view global mobility as a form of security.
“True wealth is no longer defined solely by financial capital, but by the freedom to choose where they and future generations can live, work, study, invest and belong.”
Top 10 Most Powerful Passports (Henley Passport Index)
- Singapore – 192 destinations
- Japan, South Korea, UAE – 188
- Sweden – 187
- Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain – 186
- Austria, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Switzerland – 185
- Hungary, Poland, United Kingdom – 184
- Australia, Canada, Czechia, Latvia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Slovakia, Slovenia – 183
- Croatia, Estonia – 182
- Liechtenstein, Lithuania – 181
- Iceland, United States – 180
Source:Forbes, reporting by Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, based on the latest Henley Passport Index.
