Overview
- Henley & Partners' 20th‑anniversary Passport Index released in July 2026 reports the average passport’s visa‑free access rose from 58 destinations in 2006 to 108 in 2026, signaling a large expansion in global mobility.
- Singapore ranks first with visa‑free access to 192 destinations and the United Arab Emirates is the biggest long‑term gainer, joining Japan and South Korea in joint second with access to 188 destinations.
- The United States has fallen from the top in 2006 to a shared tenth place with visa‑free access to 180 destinations, reflecting shifts in reciprocal visa arrangements and diplomatic influence.
- Henley’s comparative analysis with the Global Peace Index finds a strong positive correlation between national peace and passport strength (Spearman ρ = 0.65), but notable outliers such as the United States and Israel show mobility also depends on economic and diplomatic capital.
- The report warns the mobility gap has widened to a record 170 destinations with Afghanistan at the bottom, a pattern that experts say entrenches inequality for travelers from poorer states and could drive demand for alternative residencies and second passports.