According to the Henley Passport Index released in January 2020, Japan tops the list of the most powerful passports in the world with access to 191 nations across the world. While Singapore was at the second spot, South Korea tied with Germany at the third spot in the ratings released.
Japan offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival to a whopping 191 destinations across the world while Singapore does so to 190 destinations. Germany and South Korea have a score of 189, which is the number of destinations to which passport holders can travel without complications.
In 2019, Japan had tied with Singapore at the top spot with a score of 189.
While Asian countries dominated the first few positions, European nations put up a strong show in the latter half of the ratings with Italy and Finland in joint fourth position. Spain, Luxembourg, and Denmark tied in at the fifth place.
United States and United Kingdom continued their downward slide: they were at joint eighth position this year. Remarkably, both the nations were at the top position half a decade earlier in 2015.
The best passports to hold in 2020 are:
1. Japan (191 destinations)
2. Singapore (190)
3. South Korea, Germany (189)
4. Italy, Finland (188)
5. Spain, Luxembourg, Denmark (187)
6. Sweden, France (186)
7. Switzerland, Portugal, Netherlands, Ireland, Austria (185)
8. United States, United Kingdom, Norway, Greece, Belgium (184)
9. New Zealand, Malta, Czech Republic, Canada, Australia (183)
10. Slovakia, Lithuania, Hungary (181)
The worst passports to hold in 2020 are:
100. North Korea, Sudan (39 destinations)
101. Nepal, Palestinian Territory (38)
102. Libya (37)
103. Yemen (33)
104. Somalia, Pakistan (32)
105. Syria (29)
106. Iraq (28)
107. Afghanistan (26)
The Henley Passport Index is created based on the data by the International Air Transport Authority. It covers 199 passports and a massive 227 destinations across the world.
