The 21 most powerful passports in the world

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5. (tied) Switzerland — 185 countries

5. (tied) Switzerland — 185 countries
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5. (tied) Ireland — 185 countries

5. (tied) Ireland — 185 countries
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5. (tied) Denmark — 185 countries

5. (tied) Denmark — 185 countries

5. (tied) Canada — 185 countries

5. (tied) Canada — 185 countries
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5. (tied) Belgium — 185 countries

5. (tied) Belgium — 185 countries

4. (tied) The United States — 186 countries

4. (tied) The United States — 186 countries
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4. (tied) The United Kingdom — 186 countries

4. (tied) The United Kingdom — 186 countries

4. (tied) Portugal — 186 countries

4. (tied) Portugal — 186 countries
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4. (tied) Norway — 186 countries

4. (tied) Norway — 186 countries

4. (tied) The Netherlands — 186 countries

4. (tied) The Netherlands — 186 countries
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4. (tied) Luxembourg — 186 countries

4. (tied) Luxembourg — 186 countries

4. (tied) Austria — 186 countries

4. (tied) Austria — 186 countries
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3. (tied) Sweden — 187 countries

3. (tied) Sweden — 187 countries

3. (tied) Spain — 187 countries

3. (tied) Spain — 187 countries
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3. (tied) South Korea — 187 countries

3. (tied) South Korea — 187 countries

3. (tied) Italy — 187 countries

3. (tied) Italy — 187 countries
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3. (tied) France — 187 countries

3. (tied) France — 187 countries

3. (tied) Finland — 187 countries

3. (tied) Finland — 187 countries
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2. (tied) Singapore — 188 countries

2. (tied) Singapore — 188 countries

2. (tied) Germany — 188 countries

2. (tied) Germany — 188 countries
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1. Japan — 189 countries

1. Japan — 189 countries

Japan topped this year's Passport Index, surpassing Singapore.

The two countries were tied at 180 countries until March 2018, when Benin relaxed its visa requirements for Japan. Earlier in the year, Henley also added eight territories and microstates for consideration in the ranking: Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Monaco, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Palestine, Vatican City, and San Marino, all of which Japan passport-holders can access without a visa.