These Are the World's Most (and Least) Powerful Passports

Passport to the World

If you want to travel internationally, you'll need a passport. But not all passports are equal: Citizens of some nations, such as the United States, can visit far more countries without first seeking clearance by applying for a travel visa than people from nations such as North Korea or Iraq. Consulting firm Henley & Partners compiles a quarterly Global Passport Ranking using International Air Transport Authority data and independent research. Here are the nations where passport holders have the readiest access to the world — the power to easily visit more than 190 countries — and the passports that grant entry to a mere fraction of that number.

Passport and visas — ziggy_mars/istockphoto

Japan

Rank: 1

Countries accessible without a pre-departure visa: 193

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Singapore

Rank: 2 (tie)

Countries accessible without a pre-departure visa: 192

South Korea

Rank: 2 (tie)

Countries accessible without a pre-departure visa: 192

Passenger holding German passport — Pradeep Thomas Thundiyil/istockphoto

Germany

Rank: 3 (tie)

Countries accessible without a pre-departure visa: 190

Spanish passport — Photitos2016/istockphoto

Spain

Rank: 3 (tie)

Countries accessible without a pre-departure visa: 190

Finland

Rank: 4 (tie)

Countries accessible without a pre-departure visa: 189

Countries accessible without a pre-departure visa: 187

Passport Problems — heller181/istockphoto

What About the U.S.?

Citizens of the United States enjoy a fairly robust passport, too, able to visit 186 countries visa-free. That puts the U.S. in seventh place, tied with Belgium, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland.

The Least Powerful Passports

Some world citizens can visit comparatively few places without jumping through extra hoops. The following passports are ranked lowest on Henley's list, making them the least powerful in the world.

100. Ethiopia, Nigeria (46 countries accessible without a pre-departure visa)

101. Eritrea, South Sudan (44 countries)

102. Iran (43 countries)

103. Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Sudan (42 countries)

104. Bangladesh, Kosovo, Libya (41 countries)

105. North Korea (40 countries)

106. Nepal, Palestinian Authority (38 countries)

107. Somalia (35 countries)

108. Yemen (34 countries)

109. Pakistan (32 countries)

110. Syria (30 countries)

111. Iraq (29 countries)