In its 2022 global ranking, the Henley Passport Index (HPI) has ranked Afghanistan’s passport as the worst passport for a holder to travel with. The annual index was initiated in 2006 and Afghanistan’s passport ranked worst in all the previous years except for 2008 and 2009.
This year, Afghanistan’s passport got a 27 visa-free ‘score’, according to the Index.
Iraq, Syria, and Pakistan respectively offer the second, third, and fourth worst passports in this global ranking.
In 2008 and 2009, Afghanistan’s passport was placed the third worst in this global ranking.
The HPI conducts its global passport ranking based on what it describes as “exclusive data” from the International Air Transport Authority and according to the travel freedom or visa-free a passport holder can enjoy throughout the world.
With 193 visa-free scores, Japan’s passport is ranked first, followed by Singapore, South Korea, and Germany, in the world. A Japanese passport offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival to 193 countries for its holder.
This comes as Afghanistan’s passport is still issued under the official title of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan which was toppled by the Taliban in August 2021.
No country has so far recognized the Taliban’s government which the group proclaimed it as the “Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan” and is currently ruling the country.
