U.S. Passport Falls to Tenth Place in Global Mobility Rankings

The Henley Passport Index’s 20th-anniversary report shows that the United States, which held a joint-first position in 2006, now shares the tenth spot with Iceland. The index counts the number of jurisdictions that a passport holder can enter without a visa or with visa-on-arrival. In 2026 the United States can travel visa-free to 180 jurisdictions, while 36 other nations offer greater mobility, effectively placing the U.S. at the 37th position when ties are accounted for.

Forbes

Henley & Partners, a London-based advisory firm, publishes the annual passport index. The 2026 edition marks two decades of data, revealing a reshaped hierarchy of travel freedom. In 2006 the U.S., Denmark and Finland each accessed 130 destinations. Since then, Asian and Middle-Eastern passports have surged. Singapore now tops the list with visa-free access to 192 destinations, a gain of 70 since 2006. The United Arab Emirates, Japan and South Korea each provide entry to 188 destinations, reflecting gains of 153, 73 and 60 respectively. European nations such as Sweden, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Spain share the fourth slot with 186 visa-free destinations.

CNNForbesSouth Korean passport power ranks 2nd with visa-free access to 188 countries

• Singapore: 192 visa-free destinations (rank 1).

Forbes

• United Arab Emirates, Japan, South Korea: 188 destinations each (rank 2, three-way tie).

Forbes

• Sweden: 187 destinations (rank 3).

CNN

• Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain: 186 destinations (rank 4, shared).

CNN

• United States & Iceland: 180 destinations (joint rank 10).

CNN

• Afghanistan: 22 destinations (bottom of the index).

CNN

• Bolivia: only passport to lose visa-free access, down six destinations.

Forbes

The report notes that 36 countries now outrank the United States, meaning the U.S. sits effectively at 37th when each tied position is counted separately.

South Korean passport power ranks 2nd with visa-free access to 188 countries

Henley & Partners’ chair, Christian H. Kaelin, emphasizes that passport power reflects “geopolitical capital” and the value other nations place on bilateral relationships. The firm’s analysis also links passport strength to the Global Peace Index, observing that many of the world’s most peaceful states hold the strongest passports, though the United States and Israel illustrate that peace is not the sole determinant.

CNNConde Nast TravelerSouth Korean passport power ranks 2nd with visa-free access to 188 countries

A JoongAng Daily translation of the Henley report attributes part of the U.S. decline to the lack of visa-free access to China, a privilege granted to several other Western developed nations.

South Korean passport power ranks 2nd with visa-free access to 188 countries

Passport rankings serve as a proxy for soft power, indicating the ease with which citizens can conduct business, tourism, and cultural exchange abroad. The United States’ slide suggests a relative erosion of diplomatic leverage and may influence perceptions of its global standing. The rise of the United Arab Emirates and other Asian economies underscores shifting economic and geopolitical dynamics that are reshaping travel freedom.

Forbes

• “Twenty years of data show that passport power is one of the clearest expressions of a country’s geopolitical capital,” — Christian H. Kaelin — Christian H. Kaelin, chair of Henley & Partners.

CNN