In the 2024 edition of the Henley Passport Index, a globally recognized measure of travel document strength, the Bangladeshi passport dropped one spot to 97th, as reported in yesterday’s release. The Passport Index, encompassing a total of 104 positions, sees Bangladesh sharing its 97th spot with North Korea.
The ranking is determined by the number of destinations passport holders can access without prior visa requirements. According to the 2024 Henley Passport Index, a Bangladeshi passport allows visa-free travel to 42 destinations. In comparison to neighboring South Asian countries, Bangladesh outperformed Nepal (98), Pakistan (101), and Afghanistan (104).
Maldives secured the strongest passport in South Asia, ranking at 58, providing visa-free access to 94 countries. Meanwhile, India, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka held positions at 80th, 87th, and 96th, respectively.
Notably, the 2024 Henley Passport Index revealed an unprecedented six countries sharing the top spot for the most desirable passport. Citizens of France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to an impressive 194 destinations worldwide—the highest count recorded in the 19-year history of the Henley Passport Index.
The top 5 rankings include Finland, South Korea, and Sweden in the second spot (193 countries), Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands in the third spot (192 countries), and Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, and the United Kingdom in the fourth spot (191 countries). Greece, Malta, and Switzerland round out the top 5, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to 190 destinations.
On the flip side, the bottom 5 rankings in the passport index are occupied by Yemen, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan.
