Asian countries continue to dominate the list of most powerful passports in 2023, when Japanese citizens enjoy the most freedom with visa-free access on demand to 193 destinations around the world.
Japan rose to first in 2022, according to the latest Henley Passport Index from London-based global citizenship and residency consulting firm Henley & Partners, which is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Singapore and South Korea (192) also remain among the most powerful, tying for second place.
Europe also performs in the top 10, with Germany and Spain tying for third at 190, followed by Finland, Italy and Luxembourg (189).
Austria, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden are tied for fifth (188), while France, Ireland, Portugal and the United Kingdom are deadlocked for the sixth-largest travel document in the world this year (187).
The U.S. passport is one of the most influential in the world outside Asia or Europe, linking Belgium, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the Czech Republic with free visa or visa-on-demand access to 186 destinations.
On the other hand, a handful of familiar countries are among the worst for citizens with intentions to travel abroad.
Afghanistan (27 destinations) most recently in Iraq (29), Syria (30), Pakistan (32), Yemen (34), Somalia (35), Nepal (38), the Palestinian Territory (38) and North Korea (40)
