British passport ranked 8th, Nepal 101st in the global ranking

London –  The British passport now ranks 8^th in the global ranking of passports, while Nepali passport is ranked 101^st position, reports said.

According to the Henley Passport Index 2025 published by Henley & Partners, the UK passport has dropped from sixth to eighth place, while China has risen from 94th in 2015 to 64th, gaining visa-free access to 37 new destinations. China now grants visa-free entry to citizens of 76 countries.

Back in 2014, the US held the No.1 spot, and in July this year it was still clinging onto the top 10.

Singapore tops the index, offering visa-free access to 193 countries, followed by South Korea and Japan. Canada ranks 9th.

The US passport now ranks 12th, tied with Malaysia. American citizens can travel visa-free to 180 out of 227 destinations.

Experts attribute the decline in the US passport’s power to stricter visa policies introduced by several nations. Brazil ended its visa-free entry for Americans in April, while China excluded the US from its new visa-free program. New travel restrictions in Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, India, Somalia, and Vietnam have also contributed to the drop.

Nepal’s passport remains unchanged at 101st position, while India has climbed to 77th place, improving by eight spots since the first quarter of 2025. Indian passport holders enjoy visa-on-arrival access to 59 countries, compared to Nepal’s 36.

Countries ranked below Nepal include Somalia, Pakistan, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan.

Henley & Partners chairperson Christian H Kaelin said the decline reflects a broader shift in global power dynamics. “Countries embracing openness are moving ahead, while those clinging to old mindsets are falling behind,” he said.

The Henley Passport Index is the original, authoritative ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. The index is based on exclusive data from the   International Air Transport Authority (IATA) – the largest, most accurate travel information database – and enhanced by Henley & Partners’ research team, the company said.

Please visit this link to check the global passport ranking of various countries.

Source: https://cdn.henleyglobal.com/storage/app/media/HPI/Henley%20Passport%20Index%202025%20October%20Global%20Ranking.pdf