The Sri Lankan passport has dropped to 98th place in the latest Henley Passport Index 2025 Global Ranking, marking a six-spot fall since September, when Sri Lanka was ranked 91st following a brief improvement in July where it had climbed five places.
The Henley Passport Index, which ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can enter visa-free, currently gives Sri Lanka access to just 41 destinations.
In contrast, Sri Lankans require a valid visa to travel to 185 countries, placing the nation near the bottom of the global mobility spectrum.
In regional context, Bhutan leads South Asia with a 92nd place ranking and visa-free access to 50 destinations.
India has dropped to 85th, while Nepal (101st), Bangladesh (100th), and Pakistan (103rd) all trail behind Sri Lanka, albeit narrowly.
The regional rankings underscore a general stagnation in passport strength across South Asia.
Globally, Singapore retains the top position, granting its citizens visa-free access to 193 countries.
South Korea ranks second with access to 190 destinations, while Japan follows closely with 189.
Notably, the United States has fallen out of the top 10 for the first time in the index’s 20-year history, now sharing the 12th spot with Malaysia.
At the bottom of the index, Afghanistan remains the weakest passport, with access to just 24 countries, followed by Syria (26) and Iraq (29).
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