Henley Passport Index 2024: France And Germany Top Chart - Where Does India Stand?

The Henley Passport Index for 2024 has been released, with the top spot secured by France, while India's passport ranking has slipped one place from last year, moving from 84th to 85th position.

This decline in India's ranking may come as a surprise, as while last year visa-free travel was available to 60 countries for Indian passport holders, this year that number has increased to 62.

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Henley Passport Index 2024

The ranking of nations based on the strength of their passports is conducted by the Henley Passport Index. In 2024, France leads the list, with its passport granting visa-free access to 194 countries.

Among the top-ranked countries alongside France are Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain. Meanwhile, Pakistan maintains its position at 106th place, similar to last year, while Bangladesh has slipped from 101st to 102nd position.

At 58th place, Maldives maintains its strong passport status, with Maldivian passport holders enjoying visa-free travel to 96 countries. India's drop in the rankings comes even after recent announcements from Iran, Malaysia, and Thailand offering visa-free entry for Indian tourists.

The rankings of the Henley Passport Index are derived from data spanning the past 19 years, based on the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) specialized data, covering 199 different passports and 227 travel destinations worldwide. Updated monthly, the index serves as a global standard for citizens of independent countries.

Significant changes in global mobility over the past two decades are indicated by the data from the Henley Passport Index. In 2006, people could travel visa-free to an average of 58 countries, while this year, that number has nearly doubled to 111 countries.