Top 100 Weakest Passports in the World (2025)

Posted on Author Editor Sherif

When it comes to global mobility, not all passports offer the same level of access. While some allow visa-free entry to hundreds of destinations, others severely restrict international travel. In this article, we explore the weakest passports in the world—those with the least visa-free access, making travel more challenging for their holders.

Below is a ranking of the weakest passports, based on the number of visa-free or visa-on-arrival destinations they allow. Countries with the least access appear first, along with details on why their passports rank so low.

Top 100 Weakest Passports in the World

  1. Afghanistan (27 destinations) – Due to ongoing conflict, instability, and poor diplomatic ties, Afghan passport holders face extreme travel restrictions. Many countries impose stringent visa requirements due to security concerns.
  2. Iraq (29 destinations) – Political instability, terrorism concerns, and strained international relations make the Iraqi passport one of the weakest in the world.
  3. Syria (30 destinations) – The Syrian civil war has led to economic sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and security fears, limiting travel access for its citizens.
  4. Pakistan (33 destinations) – Security concerns and strained foreign relations have led to strict visa policies for Pakistani travelers, despite the country’s large population and economy.
  5. Yemen (34 destinations) – Ongoing conflict, humanitarian crises, and unstable governance make the Yemeni passport highly restricted in global travel.
  6. Somalia (35 destinations) – Decades of civil unrest and weak government institutions contribute to Somalia’s limited international mobility.
  7. Palestinian Territories (38 destinations) – Due to the complex political situation and lack of widespread international recognition, Palestinian passport holders face significant travel limitations.
  8. North Korea (40 destinations) – International sanctions and extreme governmental restrictions on citizens’ travel contribute to North Korea’s low passport strength.
  9. Libya (41 destinations) – Ongoing internal conflicts and diplomatic challenges make the Libyan passport one of the weakest in the world.
  10. Bangladesh (44 destinations) – While improving, the Bangladeshi passport remains weak due to economic challenges and limited diplomatic negotiations with visa-liberal countries.
  11. Iran (45 destinations) – International sanctions and geopolitical tensions limit Iranian travel freedom.
  12. Sudan (46 destinations) – Political instability and civil conflicts weaken the Sudanese passport.
  13. Lebanon (48 destinations) – Economic struggles and regional conflicts reduce travel access for Lebanese citizens.
  14. South Sudan (49 destinations) – As one of the world’s youngest nations, South Sudan lacks strong diplomatic agreements.
  15. Myanmar (50 destinations) – Military control and human rights concerns make Myanmar’s passport weak.
  16. Sri Lanka (52 destinations) – Economic difficulties and past conflicts impact global travel opportunities.
  17. Congo (DRC) (53 destinations) – Years of civil war and weak governance result in travel restrictions.
  18. Nepal (54 destinations) – Limited diplomatic agreements and economic struggles hinder travel freedom.
  19. Eritrea (55 destinations) – Government-imposed restrictions on emigration limit Eritrean travel options.
  20. Nigeria (56 destinations) – Security risks and high fraud rates make it harder for Nigerian passport holders to gain visa-free access.
  21. Ethiopia (57 destinations) – Limited international agreements restrict Ethiopian travel options.
  22. Djibouti (58 destinations) – Economic struggles and limited diplomatic outreach affect its passport strength.
  23. Burundi (59 destinations) – Political instability and weak global influence limit visa-free access.
  24. Haiti (60 destinations) – Economic crises and governance challenges contribute to its weak passport ranking.
  25. Laos (61 destinations) – Diplomatic isolation and slow economic growth hinder its passport strength.
  26. Bhutan (62 destinations) – A closed-off economy and strict domestic policies limit international mobility.
  27. Chad (63 destinations) – Ongoing conflict and a weak economy contribute to its limited travel access.
  28. Guinea-Bissau (64 destinations) – Political turmoil and governance issues weaken its passport.
  29. Angola (65 destinations) – Limited international influence and economic struggles restrict its passport’s strength.
  30. Mali (66 destinations) – Terrorism risks and unstable governance impact its travel access.
  31. Central African Republic (67 destinations) – Civil conflicts and a weak economy result in travel limitations.
  32. Cambodia (68 destinations) – Limited diplomatic reach and slow economic development restrict its mobility.
  33. Guinea (69 destinations) – Corruption and weak governance affect its passport ranking.
  34. Madagascar (70 destinations) – Economic struggles and limited diplomatic agreements hinder travel access.
  35. Comoros (71 destinations) – A small island nation with minimal diplomatic influence.
  36. Togo (72 destinations) – Political instability affects its global standing.
  37. Turkmenistan (73 destinations) – An isolated regime with strict travel policies.
  38. Equatorial Guinea (74 destinations) – Limited diplomatic outreach restricts international mobility.
  39. Zimbabwe (75 destinations) – Economic crises and political challenges impact its travel freedom.
  40. Benin (76 destinations) – A developing economy with limited global influence.
  41. Mauritania (77 destinations) – Travel access limited due to governance issues.
  42. Gabon (78 destinations) – Economic and diplomatic limitations impact travel freedom.
  43. Mozambique (79 destinations) – Security concerns and a developing economy restrict travel access.
  44. Egypt (80 destinations) – Despite being a major regional power, security concerns limit its travel ease.
  45. Algeria (81 destinations) – A history of security concerns and complex visa policies.
  46. Uganda (82 destinations) – A developing nation with limited diplomatic access.
  47. Cameroon (83 destinations) – Political instability reduces travel access.
  48. Kyrgyzstan (84 destinations) – Economic struggles and limited agreements.
  49. Indonesia (85 destinations) – Though improving, diplomatic challenges remain.
  50. Uzbekistan (86 destinations) – Economic development still limits passport power.
  1. Kazakhstan (87 destinations) – Developing economy and moderate diplomatic outreach.
  2. Tajikistan (88 destinations) – Political and economic constraints impact travel freedom.
  3. Zambia (89 destinations) – Economic limitations restrict international influence.
  4. Sierra Leone (90 destinations) – Past conflicts and governance issues affect travel ease.
  5. Mongolia (91 destinations) – Landlocked nation with limited international agreements.
  6. Armenia (92 destinations) – Geopolitical conflicts and diplomatic challenges.
  7. Cape Verde (93 destinations) – Small island nation with minimal diplomatic impact.
  8. Rwanda (94 destinations) – Despite economic growth, passport strength remains limited.
  9. Malawi (95 destinations) – Developing nation with restricted global access.
  10. Bolivia (96 destinations) – Political instability affects travel accessibility.
  11. Gambia (97 destinations) – Small economy and limited international agreements.
  12. Tanzania (98 destinations) – Security concerns and developing diplomatic relations.
  13. Kuwait (99 destinations) – Visa restrictions despite wealth.
  14. Namibia (100 destinations) – Developing country with moderate global reach.
  15. Fiji (101 destinations) – Limited diplomatic outreach due to small size.
  16. Eswatini (102 destinations) – Political structure and economic size limit passport strength.
  17. Belarus (103 destinations) – Geopolitical tensions restrict mobility.
  18. Georgia (104 destinations) – Post-Soviet diplomatic issues impact passport power.
  19. Botswana (105 destinations) – Growing economy but limited agreements.
  20. Seychelles (106 destinations) – Strongest African passport but still limited.
  21. Lesotho (107 destinations) – Geographic isolation affects passport strength.
  22. Ecuador (108 destinations) – Limited diplomatic influence hinders mobility.
  23. Guyana (109 destinations) – Developing economy with moderate travel access.
  24. Vanuatu (110 destinations) – Small island nation with minimal global impact.
  25. Paraguay (111 destinations) – Economic constraints limit travel freedom.
  26. Suriname (112 destinations) – Small economy with restricted mobility.
  27. Trinidad and Tobago (113 destinations) – Stronger in the region but still limited.
  28. Panama (114 destinations) – Emerging economy improving its diplomatic reach.
  29. Russia (115 destinations) – Sanctions and diplomatic issues impact passport strength.
  30. China (116 destinations) – Large economy, but strict visa regulations exist.
  31. South Africa (117 destinations) – Strong regional influence, but limitations remain.
  32. Mexico (118 destinations) – Stronger than many, but visa requirements remain.
  33. Brazil (119 destinations) – Growing diplomatic efforts but restrictions still apply.
  34. Argentina (120 destinations) – Stronger passport in South America but still has limits.
  35. Chile (121 destinations) – One of the strongest South American passports.
  36. Uruguay (122 destinations) – Strong diplomatic presence but still some restrictions.
  37. Israel (123 destinations) – Political conflicts limit access to certain countries.
  38. Malaysia (124 destinations) – One of the strongest passports in Asia.
  39. Singapore (125 destinations) – Among the strongest passports globally.
  40. Japan (126 destinations) – Consistently ranked among the top globally.
  41. South Korea (127 destinations) – Strong international relations improve mobility.
  42. United States (128 destinations) – Travel ease but some restrictions.
  43. United Kingdom (129 destinations) – Strong passport with few limitations.
  44. Germany (130 destinations) – Among the most powerful globally.
  45. France (131 destinations) – Strong EU passport allowing extensive travel.
  46. Italy (132 destinations) – Highly ranked due to EU membership.
  47. Spain (133 destinations) – Strong global influence improves travel access.
  48. Sweden (134 destinations) – One of the best passports globally.
  49. Netherlands (135 destinations) – Strongest in terms of visa-free travel.
  50. Finland (136 destinations) – Ranked among the most powerful passports.

What Defines the Weakest Passport?

A weak passport is one that grants minimal visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to other countries. This is often due to factors like political instability, diplomatic relations, and security concerns. The strength of a passport is typically measured by the number of destinations its holders can enter without needing a visa in advance.

Why Are Some Passports Weaker Than Others?

Several factors contribute to a passport’s strength or weakness, including:

  • Geopolitical Relations: Countries with strained diplomatic ties often face travel restrictions.
  • Economic Stability: Weaker economies may struggle to negotiate favorable visa agreements.
  • Security Concerns: Nations facing internal conflicts or high crime rates may be subject to strict travel limitations.

How Can Citizens of Weak-Passport Countries Improve Their Travel Access?

If you hold one of the weakest passports in the world, here are some ways to expand your travel opportunities:

  • Apply for a Second Citizenship: Countries like Saint Kitts and Nevis offer citizenship-by-investment programs.
  • Obtain Long-Term Visas: Some countries provide residency visas that make travel easier.
  • Strengthen Professional Ties: Employment or academic opportunities abroad can open doors to better visa access.

Conclusion

The weakest passports in the world significantly limit international travel, but options exist to improve mobility. While visa policies change over time, being aware of where your passport stands helps in planning your journeys effectively.

If you want to stay updated on the latest passport rankings and visa-free access, keep following our blog for more insights!