Asian countries hold the most powerful passports in the world.

Specifically, citizens of Japan and Singapore can visit 190 out of 218 countries without needing a visa. Meanwhile, British citizens can only visit 184 countries this year (compared to 186 in 2018).

Finland, Germany, and South Korea share the third position, while Denmark, Italy, and Luxembourg round out the top eight. Afghanistan holds the last spot on the list with 25 visa-free countries, down from 30 in 2018. Just above Afghanistan are Iraq, Syria, Somalia, and Pakistan.

In the past, the United Kingdom held the number one spot from 2013 to 2015, while German citizens possessed the most powerful passport in both 2016 and 2017. However, new visa policies helped Japan and Singapore rise to the top last year and maintain their rankings this year. Nevertheless, most European countries still occupy high positions in the overall ranking, with a total of 19 out of 25 countries coming from Europe.

"For the past 14 years, the top positions have consistently belonged to European or American countries. However, a clear shift began in 2018, with Asian countries now gradually establishing themselves as leaders in economic activity and resilience globally," the report points out.

The report also highlighted the rise of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which climbed into the top 40 globally. UAE citizens can now travel to Africa, including South Africa, without a visa. Other countries that have seen significant increases in ranking in recent years include China, Ukraine, Indonesia, Georgia, and Peru.

COUNTRIES WITH THE MOST POWERFUL PASSPORTS

countries with the least powerful passports

Hannah Nguyen