Here are the most powerful passports in the world in 2023

This text is a translationCTV News article.

The report, which is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (ITATA), ranks the world’s 199 passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.

According to the Henley Index, Japanese citizens can visit 193 destinations without a visa, just ahead of South Koreans and Singaporeans, who can enjoy visa-free entry to 192 destinations.

After the first three, Germany and Spain share the third spot, with 190 destinations. Finland, Italy and Luxembourg are fourth, tied at 189.

Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden rank fifth. Its citizens can access 188 destinations without a visa. They are followed by France, Ireland, Portugal and the United Kingdom in sixth place.

Belgium, the Czech Republic, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the United States are seventh, tied with 186 destinations, while Australia, Canada, Greece and Malta are eighth with 185 visa-free destinations.

Hungary and Poland, each with 184 visa-free destinations, rank ninth and Lithuania and Slovakia with 183 visa-free destinations rank tenth.

At the bottom, the Afghan passport takes the last place, as Afghan citizens can only access 27 countries without the need for a visa.

The report says global travel is now at about 75% of pre-pandemic levels.

A link between passport power and economic power?

According to the Henley Passport Index, there is a direct link between passport strength and economic strength, as only 6% of passports worldwide can provide visa-free access to more than 70% of the global economy and only 17% of passport holders have access To more than 227 international destinations.

For example, Japanese passport holders can access 85% of countries, which together account for 98% of the global economy.

In contrast, Afghan citizens only have access to 12% of the world’s, or less than 1% of global economic output.

These are the 10 best passports in 2023, according to the Henley Index:

1. Japan – 193 visa-free destinations
2. Singapore and South Korea – 192 visa-free destinations
3. Germany and Spain – 190 visa-free destinations
4. Finland, Italy and Luxembourg – 189 visa-free destinations
5. Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden – 188 visa-free destinations
6. France, Ireland, Portugal and the United Kingdom – 187 visa-free destinations
7. Belgium, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, the United States and the Czech Republic – 186 visa-free destinations
8. Australia, Canada, Greece and Malta – 185 visa-free destinations
9. Hungary and Poland – 184 visa-free destinations
10. Lithuania and Slovakia – 183 visa-free destinations

Here are the 10 worst passports in 2023, according to the Henley Index

1. Afghanistan – 27 visa-free destinations
2. Iraq – 29 visa-free destinations
3. Syria – 30 visa-free destinations
4. Pakistan – 32 visa-free destinations
5. Yemen – 34 visa-free destinations
6. Somalia – 35 visa-free destinations
7. Nepal and the Palestinian Territories – 38 visa-free destinations
8. North Korea – 40 visa-free destinations
9. Bangladesh, Kosovo and Libya – 41 visa-free destinations
10. Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, Sri Lanka and Sudan – 42 visa-free destinations

This story was funded through the Afghan Resident Journalists project funded by Meta.