‘Historic low’: US drops out of top 10 most powerful passports list! What led to the decline of American passport? Explained
It’s a historic low for the US passport! For the first time since Henley Passport Index started releasing passport rankings almost 20 years ago, the US passport has dropped out of the top 10 most powerful or strongest passports in the world rankings!On the other hand, the top 10 list is dominated by Asian countries – with Singapore leading the ranks. A Singapore passport ensures that you have visa-free access to as many as 193 out of 227 destinations tracked by Henley Passport Index. South Korea (190) and Japan (189) follow closely.
Why Has US Dropped Out of the Top 10 Most Powerful Passports List?
According to the latest Henley Passport Index data, the US passport has dropped to 12th position, sharing the spot with Malaysia, allowing entry to 180 of 227 destinations.Several factors contributed to the American passport’s decline, including Brazil’s withdrawal of visa-free entry in April, exclusion from China’s expanding visa-free programme, and modifications by Papua New Guinea and Myanmar. Additional changes by Somalia’s eVisa system and Vietnam’s new visa-free list further affected its standing, according to Henley Passport index.Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, said: “The declining strength of the US passport over the past decade is more than just a reshuffle in rankings — it signals a fundamental shift in global mobility and soft power dynamics. Nations that embrace openness and cooperation are surging ahead, while those resting on past privilege are being left behind.”
US historical passport rankings
The British passport has also experienced a decline, moving from 6th to 8th position since July, despite having led the index in 2015.American passport holders enjoy visa-free access to 180 destinations, whilst the United States permits only 46 nationalities to enter without visas. This positions the US at 77th place on the Henley Openness Index, a measure of national receptiveness to international visitors.The United States demonstrates one of the world’s largest disparities between its outbound visa-free privileges and inbound visa requirements, ranking near Australia and marginally ahead of Canada, New Zealand, and Japan, the statement said.Annie Pforzheimer, Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said, “Even before a second Trump presidency, US policy had turned inward. That isolationist mindset is now being reflected in America’s loss of passport power.”
The rise of China’s Passport
Meanwhile, China has achieved notable progress. Its global ranking has improved from 94th in 2015 to 64th in 2025, gaining access to 37 additional visa-free destinations. China’s position on the Henley Openness Index reached 65th after providing visa-free entry to 76 nations, surpassing the US by 30 countries.China’s diplomatic achievements include recent visa-free arrangements with Russia, Gulf states, South American nations, and European partners, demonstrating its commitment to international engagement.
Top 10 Strongest Passports in the World 2025
Below is the list of the top 10 strongest or most powerful passports in the world, according to the latest Henley Passport Index rankings:
