Full Breakdown
Global Passport Power Shifts: 2026 Henley Index Shows U.S. Drop, UAE Surge
7/22/2026, 4:50:37 AM
Core Event – 2026 Henley Passport Index Unveiled
The Henley Passport Index released on July 21 ranks Singapore’s passport at the top with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 192 destinations. The United Arab Emirates, Japan and South Korea share second place with 188 destinations each. The United States falls to a joint-tenth position, offering access to 180 destinations. Afghanistan remains at the bottom with 22 destinations, producing a 170-destination gap between the most and least powerful passports.
Background & Context
In 2006 the United States held the premier spot, its passport granting visa-free travel to 130 destinations. At that time Singapore and the United Arab Emirates were far lower in the ranking. Over the past two decades the index shows a broad expansion of mobility, with the average passport now covering 108 destinations compared with 58 when the index began.
Data & Statistics
- Singapore: 192 visa-free destinations (Henley, July 21).
- UAE, Japan, South Korea: 188 destinations each (Henley, July 21).
- United States: 180 destinations, joint-tenth (Henley, July 21).
- Afghanistan: 22 destinations, still last (Henley, July 21).
- Mobility gap: 170 destinations between Singapore and Afghanistan (Henley, July 21).
- Average passport: 108 destinations now vs. 58 in 2006.
- UAE’s rise: added 153 visa-free destinations over 20 years, the largest improvement recorded.
- Bolivia: only passport with a net loss, down six destinations since 2006.
Official Statements & Responses
Christian H. The Henley report also notes a strong positive relationship between peacefulness and passport power, observing that many of the world’s most peaceful nations hold the strongest passports.
Why It Matters – Geopolitical Implications
The shift in rankings signals changing diplomatic capital. Nations whose passports rank highly are perceived as valuable partners for trade, investment, security and broader cooperation. The United Arab Emirates’ ascent illustrates how strategic visa-liberalisation and international engagement can translate into tangible mobility gains, while the United States’ decline suggests a relative erosion of perceived partnership value despite an overall increase in travel freedom.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Arton Capital’s separate Passport Index, which also evaluates 193 UN member states, places the United Arab Emirates at first with a score of 182, and France and Spain tied for second with 175. This contrasts with Henley’s ranking that keeps Singapore at the summit. Both indexes agree on the overall trend of expanding mobility but differ on the precise hierarchy of the top passports.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Twenty years of data show that passport power is one of the clearest expressions of a country’s geopolitical capital,” — Christian H. Kaelin
