The world’s most powerful passports in 2024 revealed: European countries dominate the top 20, but it’s the UAE that’s No.1, while the UK and the U.S slide further down the ranking
The world’s most powerful passports for 2024 have been revealed – and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tops the charts for the fourth year in a row.
The global ranking indicates how many countries citizens can enter visa-free around the world. Those living in the UAE have access to more than 90 percent of the world and can visit 133 countries visa-free and 47 countries with visa on arrival.
The rest of the top 20 is dominated by European countries, with 19 of the top 20 most powerful countries being in Europe.
Spain overtakes Germany (5th) to become the world’s second most powerful passport, while Finland jumps to third place, ahead of France (4th), Belgium (6th) and Italy (7th). The French passport remains the strongest among the G20 countries.
Britain continues to fall in the rankings, dropping ten places from 22nd to 32nd in 2024. British passport holders can visit 125 countries visa-free and 49 countries with visa on arrival. It was last in the top 10 in 2017.
The US also sees its passport drop further in the index, from 27th to 38th. US citizens can visit 123 countries without a visa and 50 countries with a visa on arrival. The US last had a top 20 ranking in 2019.
Arton Capitalwhich produced the rankings, said in a statement: “As the new Trump administration takes office, it remains to be seen what steps the US will take to stop the downgrade of its once great passport. The new Trump administration is currently the weakest passport in the G7 group and has every motivation to make the American passport great again.”
However, the US passport remains more powerful than its “biggest competitor,” China, whose passport ranks 110 in the power index.
The world’s most powerful passports for 2024 have been revealed – and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) tops the charts for the fourth year in a row
South Korea’s passport is the strongest in Asia, despite falling from 17th to 21st place compared to last year’s rankings. Japan (25th) and Singapore (30th) are the next most powerful Asian passports.
Further west in Central Asia, Kazakhstan (114th) and Uzbekistan (140th) each rise in the rankings this year, continuing a trend from previous years.
In the Middle East, the conflict continues to negatively impact the mobility scores of the region’s countries, Arton Capital noted, with governments tightening travel restrictions and visa issuance.
Britain continues to fall in the rankings, dropping ten places from 22nd to 32nd in 2024. British passport holders can visit 125 countries visa-free and 49 countries with visa on arrival
Earlier this year, the statement shows, Schengen countries warned citizens against traveling to and from Israel and Palestine, while Israel temporarily stopped issuing visas to humanitarian workers.”
Hrant Boghossian, co-founder of the rankings, said: ‘The World Openness Score remained flat this year – the post-Covid recovery bounce we have seen in recent years is well and truly over.
‘It is not surprising that European passports are by far the best ranked, ahead of larger economies such as the United States and China. Almost all countries in the Balkans have experienced growth in their mobility this year, a positive trend in the region that will hopefully continue.
‘Geopolitical factors, including elections and conflicts, continue to influence global mobility. Despite this, we continue to see countries working together and governments recognizing the opportunities that visa-free agreements offer.”