The Pakistani passport has once again ranked among the world’s least powerful, placing 103rd globally in the 2025 Henley Passport Index — a position it shares with Yemen.
According to the latest ranking, Pakistan’s passport grants visa-free access to only 31 destinations out of 227. The country continues to trail behind most of the world in travel freedom, ranking above only Iraq (104th), Syria (105th), and Afghanistan (106th).
Pakistan’s global standing declines
This marks the fifth consecutive year that Pakistan has been declared the fourth-worst passport in the world.
The Henley Passport Index, which evaluates 199 passports based on “visa-free scores”, revealed that Pakistan’s ranking has dropped several spots from previous years.
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In 2024 and 2023, Pakistan ranked 100th.
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In 2022, it stood at 109th, with visa-free access to 32 destinations.
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In 2021, the country ranked 107th with the same visa-free score.
The latest results highlight Pakistan’s ongoing struggle to expand its global mobility and strengthen diplomatic travel ties.
India also sees decline in global mobility
Neighbouring India has also experienced a drop in its global passport ranking, slipping to 85th place — tied with Mauritania — in the 2025 index.
Indian passport holders can now travel visa-free to 57 countries, compared to 59 destinations earlier this year, when the country ranked 77th.
Analysts note that the decline underscores India’s limited progress in negotiating greater international access, despite its expanding global influence and economic growth.
Top performers: Singapore retains strongest passport
At the top of the 2025 Henley Passport Index sits Singapore, whose passport provides visa-free access to 193 destinations — making it the world’s most powerful travel document for the fourth consecutive year.
South Korea ranks second with access to 190 destinations, followed by Japan in third with 189.
Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, and Switzerland share fourth place, each offering visa-free access to 188 countries.
Meanwhile, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands occupy fifth position with 187 destinations.
The rankings reflect Asia’s growing dominance in global mobility, led by Singapore, Japan, and South Korea.
US, UK fall to record lows
For the first time in two decades, the United States has fallen out of the world’s top 10 most powerful passports.
Once ranked No. 1 in 2014, the US passport now holds the 12th position, tied with Malaysia, with visa-free access to 180 countries.
The United Kingdom has also seen a sharp decline, dropping to its lowest-ever ranking — from 6th to 8th place since July — despite once holding the top spot in 2015.
According to Henley & Partners, the US decline was driven by several factors, including the loss of visa-free access to Brazil, exclusion from China’s expanding visa-free list, and new restrictions from Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, and Vietnam.
China climbs rankings with growing global access
In contrast, China’s passport continues to climb the global ranks.
Having improved its position from 94th in 2015 to 64th in 2025, China’s visa-free score has increased by 37 destinations over the past decade.
Recent agreements, including visa-free travel to Russia and several Gulf, South American, and European nations, have enhanced Beijing’s global standing.
Henley & Partners noted that China’s diplomatic outreach is helping it emerge as a major global mobility power, strengthening the Asia-Pacific region’s influence in international travel.
Global travel disparities widen
The latest Henley Passport Index underscores a widening mobility gap between nations. While countries like Singapore, South Korea, and Japan continue to expand their global reach, others — such as Pakistan and Afghanistan — remain at the bottom of the list, reflecting geopolitical and diplomatic challenges that limit travel freedom.
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