India Slips in Passport Power Rankings, France Tops Henley Passport Index

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 19th Feb. In geopolitics, the strength of a country’s passport is a significant metric to measure its soft power. A strong passport allows citizens to freely travel across the globe without requiring a visa.

The latest rankings from the Henley Passport Index reveal that in 2024, France has claimed the top spot, with its passport providing visa-free access to 194 countries. Joining France at the pinnacle are Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain.

Despite an increase in the number of countries granting visa-free access to Indian citizens — rising from 60 to 62 compared to the previous year — India has slipped one rank down to 85th place. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s crisis-hit status remains unchanged at 106th place, while Bangladesh has slipped from 101st to 102nd position.

India’s maritime neighbor, the Maldives, secured the 58th position, with its citizens enjoying visa-free access to 96 countries.
China has witnessed a marginal improvement in its ranking, moving from 66th place in 2023 to 64th place this year, following its decision to grant visa-free access to several European nations to stimulate post-pandemic tourism.

Interestingly, the United States has seen its ranking climb from 7th to 6th position. However, the country’s anti-immigration stance remains a polarizing issue as the Presidential elections loom.

The Henley Passport Index methodology, which utilizes exclusive data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA), covers 199 passports and 227 travel destinations. It is updated monthly and serves as the standard reference tool for global citizens and sovereign states when assessing passport rankings on the global mobility spectrum.

These rankings underscore the significant transformation in global mobility over the last two decades. In 2006, individuals could travel visa-free to an average of 58 countries, a number that has nearly doubled to 111 countries in 2024.