If you want to travel internationally, you’ll need a passport. But not all passports are equal: Citizens of some nations, such as the United States, can visit far more countries without first seeking clearance by applying for a travel visa than people from nations such as North Korea or Iraq. Consulting firm Henley & Partners compiles a quarterly Global Passport Ranking using International Air Transport Authority data and independent research. Here are the nations where passport holders have the readiest access to the world — the power to easily visit more than 190 countries — and the passports that grant entry to a mere fraction of that number.
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Japan
Rank: 1
Countries accessible without a pre-departure visa: 193
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Singapore
Rank: 2 (tie)
Countries accessible without a pre-departure visa: 192
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South Korea
Rank: 2 (tie)
Countries accessible without a pre-departure visa: 192
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Germany
Rank: 3 (tie)
Countries accessible without a pre-departure visa: 190
Spain
Rank: 3 (tie)
Countries accessible without a pre-departure visa: 190
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Finland
Rank: 4 (tie)
Countries accessible without a pre-departure visa: 189
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Italy
Rank: 4 (tie)
Countries accessible without a pre-departure visa: 189
Luxembourg
Rank: 4 (tie)
Countries accessible without a pre-departure visa: 189
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Austria
Rank: 5 (tie)
Countries accessible without a pre-departure visa: 188
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Denmark
Rank: 5 (tie)
Countries accessible without a pre-departure visa: 188
Netherlands
Rank: 5 (tie)
Countries accessible without a pre-departure visa: 188
Sweden
Rank: 5 (tie)
Countries accessible without a pre-departure visa: 188
France
Rank: 6 (tie)
Countries accessible without a pre-departure visa: 187
Ireland
Rank: 6 (tie)
Countries accessible without a pre-departure visa: 187
Portugal
Rank: 6 (tie)
Countries accessible without a pre-departure visa: 187
United Kingdom
Rank: 6 (tie)
Countries accessible without a pre-departure visa: 187
What About the U.S.?
Citizens of the United States enjoy a fairly robust passport, too, able to visit 186 countries visa-free. That puts the U.S. in seventh place, tied with Belgium, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland.
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The Least Powerful Passports
Some world citizens can visit comparatively few places without jumping through extra hoops. The following passports are ranked lowest on Henley’s list, making them the least powerful in the world.
100. Ethiopia, Nigeria (46 countries accessible without a pre-departure visa)
101. Eritrea, South Sudan (44 countries)
102. Iran (43 countries)
103. Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Sudan (42 countries)
104. Bangladesh, Kosovo, Libya (41 countries)
105. North Korea (40 countries)
106. Nepal, Palestinian Authority (38 countries)
107. Somalia (35 countries)
108. Yemen (34 countries)
109. Pakistan (32 countries)
110. Syria (30 countries)
111. Iraq (29 countries)
112. Afghanistan (27 countries)
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