Islamabad: Pakistan’s passport has once again been ranked among the weakest in the world. It holds the 103rd position in the Henley Passport Index 2025. This marks the fifth consecutive year it has remained near the bottom of the global list.
The index, compiled by UK-based firm Henley & Partners, measures the strength of 199 passports. It is based on visa-free access to 227 international destinations. The data is sourced exclusively from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
According to the latest rankings, Pakistani passport holders can travel to only 31 destinations without a visa. Pakistan shares its 103rd spot with Yemen. It is followed by Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, which continue to occupy the lowest positions on the list.
In comparison, neighbouring countries fared significantly better. China ranked 64th, with visa-free access to 82 destinations. Meanwhile, India ranked 98th, and Iran stood at 85th with 57 and 41 visa-free destinations, respectively.
The U.S. passport has fallen out of the top 10 most powerful passports globally for the first time in 20 years.
The American passport is now in 12th spot, tied with Malaysia. A decade ago, the U.S. passport topped the index. https://t.co/iVIdnzRC0m
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) October 15, 2025Despite global travel improvements, Pakistan’s position has remained unchanged for the past several years. This reflects limited progress in diplomatic and mobility agreements.
At the top of the 2025 index, Singapore retained its position as the world’s most powerful passport. It provides visa-free access to 193 destinations. South Korea ranked second with 190, followed closely by Japan with 189.
Meanwhile, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, and Switzerland shared the fourth position. Additionally, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands tied for fifth place.
The #UAE has the strongest passport in the Arab world, followed by #Qatar, #Kuwait, and #SaudiArabia, according to the Henley Passport Index 2025.#Forbes pic.twitter.com/aXAZWOoAxI
— Forbes Middle East (@Forbes_MENA_) October 15, 2025China’s passport has made steady progress, climbing 30 places in a decade. It moved from 94th in 2015 to 64th in 2025. Furthermore, it has expanded its visa-free access to 37 destinations. On the Henley Openness Index, China now allows visa-free entry to 76 countries, surpassing the United States by 30 destinations.
In contrast, the US passport has dropped out of the world’s top 10 for the first time in two decades. It slipped to 12th place alongside Malaysia, with visa-free access to 180 destinations. At the bottom of the list, Afghanistan remains the least powerful passport globally, offering its citizens visa-free access to just 24 destinations.
