Bangladesh has been placed 95th in the latest Henley Passport Index, marking a slight improvement from its 100th position in the previous year. While the gain reflects modest progress, the country still remains among the bottom eight worldwide.
According to the index, Bangladeshis currently enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 37 destinations. In the previous ranking, Bangladesh was placed 100th.
The Henley Passport Index, prepared by London-based global citizenship and immigration consultancy Henley & Partners using data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.
At the top of the latest ranking, Singapore retains its position as the world’s most powerful passport, with visa-free access to 192 of 227 countries and territories. Japan and South Korea jointly occupy second place, allowing entry to 188 destinations without a visa.
Five European countries—Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland—are tied for third place, each with access to 186 destinations. A further 10 European countries share fourth place with access to 185 destinations, while Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) rank fifth with 184 destinations.
The UAE has recorded the strongest rise in the 20-year history of the index, moving up 57 places since 2006 after adding 149 visa-free destinations, a development attributed to sustained diplomatic efforts and visa liberalisation policies.
At the other end of the scale, Afghanistan remains the weakest passport globally, with visa-free access to just 24 destinations. Syria and Iraq also rank near the bottom.
The gap between the strongest and weakest passports now stands at 168 destinations.
Commenting on the findings, Christian H Kaelin, chairman of Henley & Partners and creator of the index, said that while global mobility has increased significantly over the past two decades, its benefits remain unevenly distributed.
“Passport privileges today play a major role in shaping opportunity, security and economic participation,” he said, adding that mobility advantages are increasingly concentrated in wealthier and more politically stable countries.
The index highlights gradual progress for countries like Bangladesh, but also underscores the persistent challenges faced by citizens of lower-ranked nations in accessing global mobility.