At least according to the 2023 Henley Passport Index, Japan has the most potent passport in the world, which should come as no surprise to anyone at this time.
For the fifth year running, the report has named the Japanese passport the "world's most powerful."
According to information from the International Air Transport Association compiled by Henley & Partners, Japanese passport holders will be able to travel to 193 of 227 locations without a visa as of 2023, which equates to 85% of the world.
The London-based residency and citizenship advisory firm publishes a report every quarter that ranks passports according to how many places its holders can visit without a prior visa.
South Koreans and Singaporeans are permitted to enter 192 nations without a visa, placing second in the list of Asian nations.
With access to 190 locations combined, Germany, Spain, and Finland tied for third place, followed by Italy, Luxembourg, and Finland with just under 189.
With a combined score of 188, the Netherlands, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, and the UK placed fifth.
Along with Belgium, the Czech Republic, New Zealand, Norway, and Switzerland, the U.S. passport placed seventh in the list of passports that allow for hassle-free travel to 186 nations.
It appears increasingly unlikely that either country will ever regain the top spot on the index, which they jointly held nearly a decade ago in 2014, the group said in a press release on Jan. 10. "The U.K. and the U.S. remain in 6th and 7th places, with scores of 187 and 186, respectively," the group said.
The research makes a direct connection between strength and economic power based on gross domestic product data from the World Bank, in addition to a limited number of nations having a visa-free entry.
"For instance, 193 countries do not require a visa for holders of Japanese passports.
These nations make for a stunning 98% of the world economy collectively "the report says.
"To compare this figure with a passport from the lower end of the spectrum, Nigerian passport holders can reach only 46 destinations visa-free (20% of the world), with these nations accounting for just 1.5% of the world's GDP," the report stated.
Despite making the largest contribution to global GDP, the United States' ability to spend money abroad is limited by other countries' visa-free access (or lack thereof).
Even yet, a U.S. passport offers more chances for visa-free travel than most countries do.
According to the survey, only 6% of governments globally grant their people visa-free access to more than 70% of the world's economy and less than a quarter do so for more than 80% of the 227 destinations on the planet.
Henley anticipates that the United States will maintain its position at No. 7 with confidence.
However, it highlights the achievements of nations that have had economic growth over the previous ten years, particularly the United Arab Emirates, which has advanced 49 places since 2012.
At the time, the UAE had a visa-free score of only 72, placing it in 64th place.
With the signing of a short-stay visa agreement between the UAE and the European Union in 2015, UAE citizens can now travel to 178 countries without a visa. This agreement allows for 90-day stays within a 180-day window.
Later this year, it's anticipated that other Middle Eastern nations, like Kuwait and Qatar, would agree to a visa-free travel agreement with the EU, further boosting their Passport Index rankings.
Senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute Dr. Robert Mogielnicki remarked, "They are positioned for strong and significantly improved economic results."
The World Bank predicts Kuwait's growth to accelerate. "Qatar's hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup offers an unequaled opportunity to advertise the small Gulf country to a global audience."
Although the Henley index is frequently quoted, other studies, such as Global Citizen Solutions' Global Passport Index from the previous year, ranked the U.S. passport as the "world's most powerful" in 2022 based on investment, quality of life, and enhanced mobility indexes.
Visa-free travel is a crucial factor frequently used in evaluating passports to assess how simple it is for a passport bearer to enter other countries, even though rankings may change depending on reports.
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