Moroccan Passport Achieves Best Ranking in a Decade, Leads North Africa
The new ranking represents a four-position jump from last year's 71st place, allowing Moroccan citizens visa-free access to 73 destinations worldwide. This achievement is Morocco's strongest showing since 2006, when the passport ranked 66th globally.
Morocco now ranks 1st among all North African countries in passport mobility. Tunisia follows at 71st place, with Mauritania at 79th, Algeria at 81st, Egypt at 85th, and Libya trailing at 95th position.
This regional advantage is attributed to Morocco's more active foreign policy and increased participation in international forums that promote mobility cooperation.
In the broader Arab world, the United Arab Emirates maintains its dominant position with the 8th most powerful passport globally, offering access to 184 countries without visas. Qatar (47th), Kuwait (50th), Saudi Arabia (54th), and Bahrain (55th) round out the top five Arab countries.
Globally, Singapore retains its crown as the world's most powerful passport with visa-free access to 193 destinations. Japan and South Korea share second place with 190 destinations each.
A strong European contingent occupies the next positions, with seven EU countries – Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain – sharing third place with access to 189 destinations.
A shifting global mobility landscape
At the bottom of the rankings, Afghanistan holds the 99th position, allowing its citizens visa-free entry to only 25 countries. Syria (98th), Iraq (97th), and a three-way tie between Yemen, Somalia, and Pakistan (96th) complete the lowest-ranked passports.
The latest index reveals shifting global mobility patterns. Traditional powers like the UK and US continue their decline, dropping to 6th and 10th place respectively.
The US stands on the brink of exiting the top 10 for the first time in the index's 20-year history. Meanwhile, countries like the UAE and China have made remarkable progress, each climbing 34 places over the past decade.
Christian H. Kaelin, creator of the passport index concept, notes that the latest rankings reveal 'an increasingly competitive landscape in global mobility.' He stressed that access 'is earned—and must be maintained—through active and strategic diplomacy.'
The Henley Passport Index ranks the passports of 199 countries based on the number of visa-free destinations a passport holder can enjoy. It relies on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which is updated in real-time.
A decade-long analysis shows a global trend toward increased openness and mobility. The average number of destinations travelers can access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 109 in 2025, with more than 80 passports climbing at least 10 places during this period. Tags: Moroccan PassportMoroccan passport rankingvisa-free destinations
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