The Japanese Passport Has Once Again Secured The "Most Powerful" Globally in 2024

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The Most Formidable Passport Worldwide

On January 10th, the British consultancy firm Henley & Partners unveiled the latest edition of the 2024 Passport Index, comparing passports from various countries worldwide. Japan claimed the top spot with visa-free access to 194 countries and territories. In the announcement last July, it had slipped to the third position but has now regained its status as the "most powerful."

Japan, which was surpassed by Singapore last year, faced a shift in rankings. However, this year saw a notable change as six countries shared the pinnacle in the number of visa-free travel destinations, an unprecedented occurrence. Four European Union (EU) member states—France, Germany, Italy, and Spain—joined Singapore and the resurgent Japan in sharing the top spot for the world's most influential passports. Passport holders from these countries enjoy visa-free access to 194 out of 227 countries and territories globally.

South Korea, Finland, and Sweden secured the second position, allowing visa-free travel to 193 countries/territories. Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands claimed the third spot, enabling visa-free travel to 192 countries/regions.

Afghanistan holds the unfortunate distinction of having the fewest visa-free access destinations (28), ranking lower than Syria and Iraq. North Korea (42) and Palestine (40) also have comparatively lower rankings.

Henley & Partners releases the Passport Index every three months. This survey covered passports from 199 countries and territories. They assessed whether each passport allows visa-free travel to 227 countries and territories based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Countries That Have Risen Sharply in the Rankings

In the past decade, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has experienced the most significant surge in rankings. In 2014, it held the 55th position, but since then, the country's passport has gained visa-free access to 106 additional countries, allowing travel to 183 nations and elevating its ranking to 11th place.

Ukraine and China have also seen notable climbs, each rising by 21 positions over the past ten years. Ukraine, with 148 visa-free destinations, is now ranked 32nd, while China, with access to 85 countries, holds the 62nd position, both advancing by two spots compared to the previous year. Russia has expanded its visa-free access by 24 countries in the last decade, maintaining a relatively stable ranking since 2017. Currently, it stands at 51st place with 119 visa-free destinations.

International Movement Trends 2024

Looking ahead to 2024, the prevailing theme seems to be "preparing for further uncertainty." Misha Grenny, Director of the Vienna Institute for Humanities Research, notes that this year will see significant elections in 40 countries, collectively contributing to over 50% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He emphasizes that the lack of geopolitical coordination increases the risk of impacting an already unstable economic environment, but overall trends suggest stability. Additionally, he highlights a relative decline in the influence of Europe and the United States, with Asia emerging as a more formidable force.

Dr. Robert Mogilnicki from the Washington Institute for Gulf States Studies acknowledges the "destructive impact" of conflicts between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East. However, he points out that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in the Middle East and the Gulf region have witnessed economic growth both this year and the previous one. He explains that the GCC has agreed to establish a visa system aligned with the Schengen Agreement, allowing free movement of visitors within the region. Implementation is expected to progress in 2024, and the increased mobility within the region is anticipated to have positive implications for smaller Gulf countries.