South Sudan and Sudan ranked 92nd on the Henley Passport Index 2026, with visa-free access to at least 41 countries. The index ranks passports based on the number of destinations their citizens can visit without a prior visa.
Despite ongoing political and economic challenges in recent years, both countries have achieved their highest rankings since 2015. However, passport rankings for both nations have fluctuated over time. South Sudan has generally ranked higher than Sudan, reaching its lowest position at 104th in 2015 and 2021, and its highest at 86th in 2008 and 2009. Sudan, meanwhile, recorded its lowest ranking in 2021 at 107th place, and its highest in 2006 at 79th place. Since 2015, however, it has not managed to rise above the 90s.
Although both countries rank relatively low, they are not among the lowest-ranked passports globally. These include Afghanistan (101), Syria (100), Iraq (99), Yemen (98), Pakistan (98), Somalia (97), North Korea (96), Nepal (96), Bangladesh (95), Palestine (94), Iran (94), Eritrea (94), Sri Lanka (93), and Libya (93).
The world’s most powerful passport is Singapore, which has held the top position almost consistently in recent years. It is followed by Japan, South Korea, and the UAE (all ranked 2nd). Sweden ranks 3rd, while Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Switzerland are all tied in 4th place, with visa-free access to 185 destinations. To see the Henley Passport Index 2026, visit henleyglobal.com/passport-index/ranking.
The Henley Passport Index is considered the original and authoritative ranking of the world’s passports, based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. It uses exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the world’s largest and most accurate travel information database, enhanced by Henley & Partners’ research team.
The index compares 199 passports across 227 destinations. A score of 1 is awarded if no visa is required, including cases where a visa on arrival, visitor’s permit, or electronic travel authorisation (ETA) can be obtained. A score of 0 is given where a visa is required in advance, including e-visas or pre-departure government approvals. A passport’s total score equals the number of destinations for which visa-free or equivalent access is granted.
The Henley Passport Index should not be confused with the Global Passport Power Rank, which also measures passport strength based on mobility scores. In the 2026 rankings, Sudan is placed 85th and South Sudan 86th. The UAE holds the top position, followed by Singapore, while Afghanistan ranks as the world’s least powerful passport. To see the full Global Passport Power Rank 2026 index, visit passportindex.org/byRank
