Passport Ranking Indices in the World
The strength of any nation's passport is an important factor in deciding the travel opportunities of its citizens. Here are the two most popular passport indices that assess different passports for their openness, travel freedom and passport strength:
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Henley Passport Index
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Arton Capital's Passport Index
Both indices use different parameters to rank the strongest and weakest passports in the world. For this reason, both have different countries at varying ranks. Indian passport strength ranking is different on both these indices.
What is the Henley Passport Index?
Henley & Partners is a London-based citizenship and residence advisory firm. The Henley Passport Index ranks about 199 passports depending upon the total number of places these passport holders can visit without a prior visa.
This leaderboard is based on the data provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). It has a point-based system where it awards points to passports based on their global travel freedom. This considers factors like requirements for visitor's permit, availability of visa on arrival, or visa-free entry for different passport holders across the world.
What is the Global Passport Index?
Arton Capital's passport index is a unique interactive tool that uses real-time information for its ranking. An initiative by Arton Capital, this Passport Index has become a reputed passport ranking reference since 2014.
It follows a different approach than the Henley passport index, including real-time data as per the latest official information & other publicly available sources. It covers the 193 countries that are a part of the United Nations as well as 6 selected territories.
Evaluation of Passport Strength
The Henley Passport Index evaluates passports of different countries across the world based on global travel freedom, i.e., how many countries can a person visit visa-free or on a visa-on-arrival on their passport?
Global travel freedom is one of the most important factors considered while ranking passports. As of now, a total number of 199 passports and 227 travel destinations are compared to determine that country's passport strength for the past 18 years.
Different world citizens enjoy different global travel freedoms. For example, UAE and Europena passport-holders can easily get a visa on arrival.
On the other hand, many travellers from other countries may be denied a visa even if they apply before their scheduled departure. While reasons for visa denial or visa refusal are many, it helps to have a strong passport.
Indian Passport Ranking in the World 2026
In 2026, the Indian passport rank fell to #75 per the Henley Passport Index. a significant improvement from its #85 rank in 2025. As per the Arton Capital's Global Passport Index, the Indian passport currently ranks #68 in 2026.
Indian passport holders are allowed visa-free entry to 52 countries, a number which has increased from 52 in the previous year. However, many factors determine this ranking, and it is bound to change every year.
Indian Passport Ranking Trends
Let's look at the last few years' data on Indian passport ranking in the world as per both passport ranking indices.
| Year | Henley Passport Index Rank | Global Passport Index Rank |
| 2026 | #75 | #68 |
| 2025 | #85 | #66 |
| 2024 | #82 | #65 |
| 2023 | #80 | #71 |
| 2022 | #87 | #66 |
| 2021 | #90 | #73 |
| 2020 | #82 | #48 |
As you can see, the ranking trends have changed significantly over the years,and recently there has been a major improvement in Indian passport ranking in the world.
If you've been considering travelling abroad but feel intimidated by all the visa formalities, check out some of the best countries offering visa-free entry to Indians.
Talking about international trips, you also need to buy travel insurance before starting your trip. It is a great safeguard for many emergencies that you may face outside of India.
Strongest Passports in the World (Henley Passport Index 2025)
This year, Singapore remains at #1, allowing its passport-holders access to 192 countries. Japan holds the #2 spot with access to 187 countries, followed by South Korea at #3 with 186.
| Nation | Rank | Visa-free Destinations |
| Singapore | #1 | 192 |
| Japan, South Korea, UAE | #2 | 187 |
| Sweden | #3 | 186 |
| Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland | #4 | 185 |
| Austria, Greece, Malta, Portugal | #5 | 183 |
| Hungary, Malaysia, Poland, United Kingdom | #6 | 182 |
| Australia, Canada, Czechia, Latvia, New Zealand, Slovakia, Slovenia | #7 | 182 |
| Croatia, Estonia | #8 | 181 |
| Liechtenstein, Lithuania | #9 | 180 |
| Iceland, USA | #10 | 179 |
Strongest Passports in the World (Arton Capital Passport Index 2025)
IArton Capital considers multiple factors, such as global mobility, simplicity, quality of life, etc., to rank the strongest and weakest passports in the world. Here are the strongest passports of 2025 as per the Global Passport Index:
| Nation | Rank |
| UAE | #1 |
| Spain, Singapore | #2 |
| Belgium, France, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland, Luxembourg, Italy, Denmark, Portugal, Switzerland, Greece, Austria, Malaysia, Norway, Ireland, South Korea, Japan | #3 |
| Malta, Poland, Hungary, Latvia | #4 |
| Romania, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Estonia | #5 |
| Cyprus, Lithuania | #6 |
| Liechtenstein, New Zealand | #7 |
| Iceland, UK, Canada, Australia | #8 |
| USA, Monaco | #9 |
| Hong Kong | #10 |
You May Also Like to Read: How to Renew Indian Passport
Weakest passports in the World 2025
Countries with a weak passport get limited global travel freedom. This may be due to their country's geopolitical relationship, conflict or other factors that may limit their international travel. Take a look at some of the least powerful passports in the world:
| Position | Henley Passport Index (Rank & Nations) | Global Passport Index (Rank & Nations) |
| 1 (Worst) | #104 Afghanistan (23) | #94 Afghanistan (38) |
| 2 | #103 Syria (26) | #93 Syria (40) |
| 3 | #102 Iraq (29) | #92 Iraq (42) |
| 4 | #101 Pakistan (30) | #91 Pakistan, Somalia (44) |
| 5 | #100 Yemen (31) | #90 Yemen (45) |
| 6 | #99 Somalia (32) | #89 Bangladesh, Palestinian Territory (46) |
| 7 | #98 Palestinian Territory (33) | #88 North Korea (48) |
| 8 | #97 Nepal, North Korea (35) | #87 Libya, Sudan, Eritrea (49) |
| 9 | #96 Bangladesh (37) | #86 South Sudan, Nepal (50) |
| 10 | #95 Eritrea, Iran (38) | #85 Nigeria, DR Congo (51) |
Indian Passport Rank: FAQs
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Q: Who has the most powerful passports in the world in 2025?
Ans: Singapore ranked #1 on the Henley Index, while UAE has the strongest passport on the Global Passport Power Rank by Arton Capital. -
Q: Has India's passport ranking improved?
Ans: Yes, India’s rank improved significantly. After reaching #85 in 2025, it ranks #78 on the Henley Passport Index. -
Q: Which is the No. 1 passport?
Ans: Singapore has been ranked #1 among the most powerful passports in the world by Henley & Partners. However, UAE has been ranked #1 per the Arton Capital Global Passport Index. -
Q: Is there any other passport ranking system other than Henley Index?
Ans: Yes, Global Passport Power Rank by Arton Capital also publishes annual rankings. These rankings are different from the Henley Index Passport Rankings. Arton Capital boasts a different method considering real-time updates and recent visa changes across different nations.
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