Passport strength now mirrors global influence. The 2025 Henley Passport Index exposes stark disparities—some enjoy widespread access, while others face tight travel limits. Here’s a look at the world’s 10 least powerful passports this year.

1. Afghanistan (Access to 25 Countries)

Afghanistan remains at the very bottom of the global ranking, where citizens are granted visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to just 28 nations—mostly in Africa and parts of Southeast Asia.

2. Syria (Access to 27 Countries)

Prolonged civil conflict and diplomatic isolation leave Syrian passport holders with entry to only 29 destinations, a harsh reminder of how war can diminish even the most basic international freedoms.

3. Iraq (Access to 30 Countries)

Despite efforts to restore global ties, Iraq continues to face security-related travel restrictions, granting its citizens entry into a mere 31 countries without the need for prior visa approval.

4. Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen (Access to 32 Countries)

Grouped together at fourth place, these nations grapple with internal unrest and fraught foreign relations, restricting their citizens’ travel freedom to just 34 destinations across select regions.

5. Libya, Nepal (Access to 38 Countries)

Libya’s post-revolution turbulence and Nepal’s limited global outreach place their passports among the world’s weakest, with only 36 countries offering simplified travel arrangements to their nationals.

6. Bangladesh, Eritrea, Palestinian Territories (Access to 39 Countries)

From political deadlock to contested sovereignty, these regions face persistent challenges in foreign diplomacy, keeping their global mobility confined to just 38 visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations.

7. North Korea (Access to 40 Countries)

Heavily sanctioned and internationally isolated, North Korea grants its citizens access to a meagre 39 countries—mostly those with whom it maintains carefully curated diplomatic relations.

8. Sudan (Access to 41 Countries)

Sudan’s ongoing political volatility continues to limit international movement, offering its passport holders visa-free entry to only 40 nations, most of them within the African continent.

9. Iran, Sri Lanka (Access to 42 Countries)

While Sri Lanka remains largely peaceful, its passport still lacks global strength. Iran, burdened by sanctions and diplomatic standoffs, finds itself in similarly constrained company.

10. Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Sudan (Access to 43 Countries)

Years of conflict and fragmented governance have severely limited international mobility for these two African nations, whose passports secure visa-free access to just 42 destinations worldwide.