Fifth consecutive year: Pakistani passport among world’s weakest once again

Web Desk: Pakistan’s passport has once again been ranked among the world’s weakest, retaining its position as the fourth lowest globally for the fifth consecutive year, according to the latest Henley Passport Index released on October 7.

In the 2025 ranking, Pakistan placed 102nd out of 106 countries, tied with Yemen and ahead of only Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. The index, compiled by the London-based firm Henley & Partners, assesses global mobility by measuring how many destinations passport holders can enter without obtaining a visa in advance.

According to the report, both Pakistani and Yemeni passports grant visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 31 destinations out of 227 worldwide. Iraq follows with access to 29, Syria to 26, and Afghanistan to just 24.

Pakistan’s travel document has consistently ranked near the bottom of the index since 2021. It was placed 100th in both 2024 and 2023, 109th in 2022 with access to 32 countries, and 107th in 2021, offering entry to the same number of destinations.

At the top of the list, Singapore retained its leading position, offering visa-free access to 193 destinations, followed by South Korea (190) and Japan (189). Several European nations — including Germany, Italy, Spain, Luxembourg, and Switzerland — followed closely, with access to between 187 and 188 destinations.

For the first time in the index’s 20-year history, the United States fell out of the top 10, sliding to 12th place with visa-free access to 180 destinations, tied with Malaysia. The United Kingdom, which topped the ranking in 2015, dropped to eighth place this year, while the United Arab Emirates climbed one spot to share the same position, offering access to 184 destinations.