Sweden tops Global Passport Index 2026; Bangladesh ranks 166th

Sweden has been ranked as the world's most powerful passport in the Global Passport Index (GPI) 2026, with European countries dominating the global rankings by securing nine of the top 10 positions.

The fifth edition of the index, released by international residency and citizenship advisory firm Global Citizen Solutions (GCS), places Sweden at the top with a score of 96.05, followed by Switzerland in second place and Finland in third.

Unlike traditional passport rankings that primarily measure visa-free travel, the GPI evaluates passports using three weighted pillars — Enhanced Mobility (50%), Investment (25%) and Quality of Life (25%) — across 14 indicators, including healthcare, economic competitiveness, safety, taxation, climate and social infrastructure.

According to the report, Sweden's passport secured the top position because of its consistently strong performance across all three categories, combining extensive global mobility with a high quality of life and an attractive investment environment.

Europe Leads the Rankings

European countries accounted for nine of the world's top 10 passports in this year's rankings, underlining the region's continued dominance in global mobility and living standards. Singapore was the only non-European country to make the top 10, ranking 10th.

The top 10 countries are:

1. Sweden

2. Switzerland

3. Finland

4. Germany

5. Netherlands

6. Denmark

7. Ireland

8. United Kingdom

9. Norway

10. Singapore

Patricia Casaburi, CEO of Global Citizen Solutions, said Europe's strength lies in offering not only broad travel access but also high living standards.

"Europe's dominance is built on balance, not on any single strength. It is the only region that combines near-maximum global mobility with some of the world's highest quality of life," she said.

Bangladesh Among Lower-Ranked Countries

Among South Asian countries, the Maldives ranked highest at 107th, followed by India (125th), Bhutan (132nd), Sri Lanka (141st), Nepal (164th) and Bangladesh (166th). Pakistan ranked 188th, while Afghanistan remained at the bottom of the global list in 197th place.

US Drops, Mobility Gap Widens

The report also highlighted a sharp decline in the United States, which slipped to 12th place overall after experiencing one of the steepest falls among G7 countries over the past five years, driven mainly by a deterioration in its mobility ranking.

Meanwhile, the report noted that the gap between the world's strongest and weakest passports continues to widen. Sweden's top score of 96.05 stands in stark contrast to Afghanistan's 23.10, reflecting growing disparities in global travel access and opportunities.

The index also observed diverging global mobility trends, with Europe increasingly relying on digital border screening systems such as the EU's upcoming Entry/Exit System and ETIAS, while several Asian countries, led by China, have expanded visa-free access for selected countries through bilateral agreements.

According to Global Citizen Solutions, the Global Passport Index aims to provide a broader assessment of a passport's overall value by measuring not only travel freedom but also the economic opportunities, investment climate and quality of life offered by the issuing country.