According to the monthly update (February 2024) of the Henley Passport Index 2024, India’s ranking dropped from 80th to 85th between January 2024 and February 2024. 6 countries namely France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, and Singapore continue to dominate the top spot with the most powerful passports in the world.
- These 6 countries enabled their citizens visa-free entry to 194 out of 227 global destinations, marking a record-breaking achievement.
Finland, Netherlands, South Korea, and Sweden ranked 2nd with visa-free travel to 193 destinations; Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom shared the 3rd place with access to 192 destinations.
Points to Note:
i.Among the 6 nations, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain are members of the European Union (EU), which is made up of 27 member countries.
ii.The 2 Asian nations Japan and Singapore have dominated 1st place on the index for the past 5 years.
India’s Passport Position:
i.Currently, India holds visa-free access to 62 destinations; and 164 nations require visas from Indian travellers.
ii.In 2023, countries like Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Kenya added India to their visa-free lists, fostering international relations.
List of Top 3 & Bottom 3 Passports:
| Top 3 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Countries | Rank | Access to Nations |
| France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain | 1 | 194 |
| Finland, Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden | 2 | 193 |
| Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, United Kingdom | 3 | 192 |
| India | 85 | 62 |
| Bottom 3 | ||
| Afghanistan | 109 | 28 |
| Syria | 108 | 29 |
| Iraq | 107 | 31 |
Global Mobility Trends:
i.The average number of destinations for visa-free travel has almost doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024.
ii.The top-ranked countries enjoy a substantial lead, with 166 more visa-free destinations than Afghanistan, emphasizing the widening global mobility gap.
- Afghanistan ranked at the bottom with access to just 28 countries without a visa.
Key Highlights:
i.Maldives and Timor-Leste shared the 58th rank with access to 96 nations.
ii.In South Asia, Pakistan, which ranked 101 in the January 2024 index dropped to 106, meanwhile, Bangladesh, which shared the rank (97) with North Korea has also slipped to 102 with North Korea.
About Henley Passport Index and its assessment:
i.The Henley Passport Index is the original ranking of all the world’s passports, assessing the number of visa-free destinations.
ii.The index includes 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations.
iii.Created by Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, the index is the only one of its kind based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
- IATA maintains the world’s largest and most accurate travel information database, enhanced by Henley & Partners’ research team.
iv.Updated monthly, the index is recognized as the standard reference tool for both global citizens and sovereign states.
Recent related News:
According to the Inclusiveness Index published by the Othering and Belonging Institute (OBI) at California University, United States of America (USA), India was ranked 117th out of 129 countries with an overall score of 49.24.
About Henley & Partners (H&P):
Chief Executive Officer– Dr. Juerg Steffen
Headquarters– London, United Kingdom (UK)
Formed in– 1997
