The 2026 Global Passport Index, produced annually by Global Citizen Solutions since 2021, has ranked Sweden as the world's most powerful passport for the third consecutive year. Sweden scored 96.05 out of 100, placing it 72.95 points ahead of Afghanistan, which sits in last place. The index assessed 197 countries and territories based on enhanced mobility, investment, and quality of living.
Top 10 Most Powerful Passports
The top 10 nations are dominated by European countries, with Singapore as the only non-European entry. Sweden leads, followed by Switzerland (2nd, 94.4 points), Finland (3rd, 94.4), Germany (4th, 94.3), the Netherlands and Denmark tied for 5th (93.7), Ireland (7th), the United Kingdom (8th), Norway (9th), and Singapore (10th).
The UK's eighth-place ranking matches its 2025 position, but the report notes it is 'notably weaker than its peers' in mobility due to post-Brexit travel access issues. Despite this, other components help it maintain a top-10 spot.
US Passport Sees Steepest Decline Among G7 Nations
The United States, which topped the index in 2021 with a record score of 96.45, has fallen to 12th place with 92.37 points. The report attributes this to a major decline in the mobility factor, with the US dropping from 10th to 41st in that category. This is the steepest decline of any G7 country in the index.
Weakest Passports Dominated by Conflict-Affected Nations
The bottom of the ranking is largely made up of conflict-affected Asian and African countries. Sudan ranks 188th, followed by Congo (Brazzaville), the Central African Republic, and Congo (Kinshasa). Eritrea is 192nd, Syrian Arab Republic 193rd, Yemen 194th, and South Sudan 195th. Somalia ranks 196th, and Afghanistan is last at 197th.
The gap between the strongest and weakest passports has widened since the index began, 'confirming that the divergence between the world’s strongest and weakest travel documents is not a post-pandemic anomaly but a deepening structural condition,' according to Global Citizen Solutions.
