Once Dominant, the U.S. Passport Slips in Global Power

The American passport, once the world’s most powerful, has dropped to 12th place in the latest Henley Passport Index, marking its lowest ranking in two decades. The index, compiled by Henley & Partners using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), measures how many countries citizens can visit without obtaining a visa in advance.

Americans currently enjoy visa-free access to 180 out of 227 destinations, tying the U.S. with Malaysia. It’s the first time in the 20-year history of the index that the United States hasn’t appeared in the top 10. The passport slipped from 7th place last year to 10th in July before falling further in the latest update. Because of multiple ties in the top 10, there are now 36 countries ranked ahead of the U.S.

Singapore leads the world with visa-free access to 193 destinations, followed by South Korea (190) and Japan (189). Other countries ranked higher than the U.S. include Germany, Austria, Denmark, Greece, Hungary, New Zealand, Portugal, Australia, the Czech Republic, Malta, Croatia, the UAE, the U.K., and Canada.

Henley & Partners Chairman Christian Kaelin attributed the U.S. decline to shifting “soft power dynamics” and a changing global mobility landscape. “Nations that embrace openness and cooperation are surging ahead, while those resting on past privilege are being left behind,” Kaelin said.

Analysts point to recent U.S. visa and immigration policy changes under the current administration as contributing factors. Brazil recently ended visa-free entry for Americans, citing a lack of reciprocal access for Brazilian travelers. China and Vietnam have also tightened entry requirements for U.S. citizens.

According to Henley’s data, the United States now grants visa-free entry to only 46 nationalities, a number that trails behind other nations with comparable passport strength.

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