US Passport Power Falls To 37th Overall For First Time — The Cause May Surprise You

DENVER, CO – MAY 27 : Danya Strait show her passport at her apartment in Denver, Colorado on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

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Even the mighty can fall.

For the first time, the iconic blue United States passport has taken a significant step back, as it falls out of the world’s top ten most powerful passports. The drop in strength reveals a shifting tide of global power, as well as how perceptions and reciprocal relationships between countries are reflected in the Henley Passport Index, which ranks countries based on the number of visa-free destinations their citizens can access. The index now places the U.S. at country number 37 overall, tied with Malaysia. America’s once-golden passport, which defined global mobility, is now in the midst of a quiet but telling decline.

In 2014, the U.S. passport held the number one spot in accessibility to visit other countries. A decade later, it has fallen behind 36 different nations in travel freedom. According to the Index, American passport holders can now travel visa-free to 180 of 227 possible global destinations, which is fewer than the access citizens of Singapore (193), South Korea (190), or Japan (189) currently have. But why?

The reasons behind this slide are complex, but they all converge on one clear truth: the world is opening up for more people. The U.S. has been slow to negotiate new travel arrangements compared to other countries. For example, some nations have rolled back existing visa exemptions toward the US in response to what they see as uneven reciprocity. Brazil reinstated visa requirements for U.S. citizens earlier this year, citing a lack of mutual access. At the same time, China has expanded its visa-free offerings to many European nations — but unfortunately, that has not included the United States. And it’s not only big nations; even small countries, such as Papua New Guinea and Myanmar, have recently introduced entry changes that favor passports from other countries over those of American travelers. The message being sent is that global mobility is shifting its focus from providing access to legacy arrangements and American privilege, and is instead leaning more on partnership.

Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, chair of Henley & Partners, who puts out the index, explained it in a statement as “The declining strength of the U.S. passport over the past decade is more than just a reshuffle in rankings — it signals a fundamental shift in global mobility and soft power dynamics. Nations that embrace openness and cooperation are surging ahead, while those resting on past privilege are being left behind.”

Is passport power running on diplomacy and goodwill?

The Rise of Asia and the UAE

The decline of the U.S. passport ranking coincides with a dramatic rise from Asia and the Middle East. Singapore now leads the world in travel access, with South Korea and Japan close behind. At the same time, the United Arab Emirates climbed from 42nd place a decade ago to eighth place today.

China has climbed 30 spots to 64th, mainly due to new visa-free agreements with countries in Europe, South America, and the Gulf region. The diplomatic strategy: nations are now leveraging mobility as a tool of economic growth and influence.

As this globalization reshapes our international alliances, passports have become a new form of currency.

Policy Meets Perception

Even as the U.S. remains a top travel destination worldwide and a symbol of freedom, government fueled policies may have gradually weakened the U.S. passport’s global standing – such as Immigration — which tightened borders and emphasized restriction over reciprocity, newer hurdles such as Europe’s upcoming ETIAS entry system and the UK’s electronic travel authorization, have made it easier for nations to charge fees or limit access by country, and harder for some to visit nations freely.

While the American passport remains among the world’s most desirable for the average traveler, the balance of global mobility is changing.

If passport power is becoming a reflection of global cooperation, then America’s slip should serve as a wake-up call. The country’s next chapter in global diplomacy may depend as much on how it rebuilds trust as on how it projects strength. The fall of the U.S. passport from the top ten isn’t just a ranking — it’s a reflection of a world where power is increasingly defined by who you let in, not who you keep out.