The United States is not the only country reinforcing its borders.
In a shocking decline, the United States passport has become less powerful than at any time in its history.
The U.S. passport has dropped to its lowest rank in the 20-year span of the Henley Passport Index.
Once the top passport globally, the U.S. now holds the 10th position — sharing it with Iceland and Lithuania — a small Baltic country that has a smaller population than Los Angeles County.
The Henley Passport Index— compiled by the London-based migration consultancy Henley & Partners — relies on the number of destinations a passport holder can access without needing a visa.
Keep informed with the newest updates by signing up for the Morning Report Newsletter
And since the index considers ties as one ranking, there are 33 countries that have improved global access compared to the U.S.
In 2014, the U.S. shared the top position with the United Kingdom in the yearly ranking.
The U.S. passport has experienced a continuous and gradual decline, losing its position each year since that time.
However, currently, it has fallen to the 10th position as American travelers can now visit 182 countries without a visa — a decrease of four compared to last year.
That’s 11 less than those holding a Singapore passport — which leads the 2025 ranking with 193 visa-free countries.
The second most powerful passports globally belong to Japan and South Korea, offering entry to 190 locations without needing a visa.
The European Union countries including Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain are all ranked third.
Afghanistan is at the bottom of the list — its passport allows visa-free entry to only 25 countries.
“Your passport is more than just a travel document — it represents your nation’s diplomatic power and global connections,” said Dr. Juerg Steffen, CEO of Henley & Partners, in a statement.
While several Western and Asian nations have enhanced their passport access via mutual diplomacy and visa exemption deals, the U.S. has progressively implemented limitations — affecting both incoming travelers and those departing.
See Also 
Top 15 most packed tourist spots unveiled — is one of your preferred travel locations on the list?
As the U.S. continues to decline in rankings, several countries have moved up more than 30 positions over the last ten years due to strong bilateral talks and increased transparency.
For instance, the UAE moved from position 42 in 2015 to position 8 in 2025—the largest increase among nations in the top 10—and China climbed 34 spots, going from 94th to 60th, within the past ten years.
Previously a gateway to almost any destination, the U.S. travel document is becoming less valuable nowadays.
Experts claim the United States has largely struggled to match the pace of establishing new visa-free arrangements, particularly in light of actions taken by the Trump administration.
The new $250 “visa integrity fee” — set to be charged to all travelers needing non-immigrant visas to enter the U.S. — is expected to potentially deter mutual agreements.
Top passports for 2025
- Singapore (193 destinations)
- Japan, South Korea (190)
- Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain (189)
- Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden (188)
- Greece, New Zealand, Switzerland (187)
- United Kingdom (186)
- Australia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland (185)
- Canada, Estonia, United Arab Emirates (184)
- Croatia, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia (183)
- Iceland, Lithuania, United States (182)
