Japan Leads 2021 World’s Passports, Nigeria Stands 97th

Asian giant, Japan has retained it’s lead as the world most powerful passport in 2021. Japan has held the spot since 2018.

The ranking was released by the Henley Passport Index on Tuesday.

The passports were rated according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.

Japan passport holders are able to access 191 destinations around the world visa-free.

Singapore which was in the number one spot with Japan in 2019 is on the second spot in 2021 with access to 190 destinations.

South Korea and Germany have a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 189.

The classification based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) affirmed Asia Pacific (APAC) countries’ dominance.

Experts say the APAC region’s strength will continue as it includes nations with quick recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.

Before now, in the index’s 16-year history, European Union countries, the United Kingdom, or the United States, held the top spots.

Over the past seven years, the U.S. passport has dropped from the uppermost to 7th place. The U.K. is presently on the same rank.

Africa most populous country, Nigeria stands in 97th position.

Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, noted that the current standing ranking provides an opportunity to reflect on the upheaval that characterized 2020.

“Just a year ago, all indications were that the rates of global mobility would continue to rise; that travel freedom would increase, and that holders of powerful passports would enjoy more access than ever before.

“The global lockdown negated these glowing projections, and as restrictions begin to lift, the results from the latest index are a reminder of what passport power really means in a world upended by the pandemic”, said Kaelin, the passport index inventor.