US falls out of top 10 in passport power ranking

For the first time in two decades, the United States passport has slipped out of the top 10 in global ranking, now positioned 12th.

This milestone reflects a broader shift in international mobility, with Asian nations like Singapore, South Korea, and Japan leading the charge, signaling growing trends in openness, collaboration, and global travel accessibility.

Meanwhile, Nigeria is ranked 96th in the latest Henley Passport Index, tied with Ethiopia, Lebanon, and Myanmar, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to just 44 countries. This position highlights the significant mobility challenges faced by Nigerian travelers compared with passport holders from stronger-ranking countries.

The Henley Passport Index, which measures the strength of passports based on visa-free access, reports that the US passport now allows entry to 180 of the 227 countries and territories tracked, tying with Malaysia.

In contrast, Singapore tops the list with visa-free access to 193 destinations, followed by South Korea (190) and Japan (189). The top 10 is increasingly dominated by Asian nations, highlighting how international cooperation and forward-thinking diplomacy are reshaping global mobility.