Croatia’s passport among world’s top 10 most powerful in latest ranking

Croatia has been ranked eighth in the world on the latest Henley Passport Index. The Henley Passport Index, which is updated quarterly, ranks global passports based on the number of destinations their holders can visit without needing a visa.

Croatian citizens can now travel visa-free to 184 countries, placing the country alongside Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

This represents a rise for Croatia in recent years, reflecting the country’s growing international mobility and strengthened global standing.

At the top of the 2025 ranking are three Asian countries.

Singapore holds first place with visa-free access to 193 destinations, followed by South Korea (190) and Japan (189).

European nations continue to dominate much of the top ten, with Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and Spain all offering access to 188 destinations, and Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands close behind with 187.

For the first time in the 20-year history of the index, the United States has fallen out of the top ten altogether, ranking 12th, tied with Malaysia.

The weakest passports

At the other end of the scale, Afghanistan remains at the bottom of the list, offering visa-free access to only 26 destinations. This marks the largest mobility gap ever recorded in the index’s history, Singaporean passport holders can travel to 169 more countries than Afghans.

Other countries with limited travel freedom include Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, and Somalia.

Top 10

1. Singapore (193 destinations)

2. South Korea (190)

3. Japan (189)

4. Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, Switzerland (188)

5. Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, the Netherlands (187)

6. Greece, Hungary, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Sweden (186)

7. Australia, Czechia, Malta, Poland (185)

8. Croatia, Estonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom (184)

The Henley Passport Index has become a key indicator of global travel freedom and diplomatic relations, based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).