Israel’s passport ranked 18th globally in the latest Henley Passport Index, its highest position since the ranking was launched 20 years ago, according to a Henley & Partners report published on Tuesday.
Israel’s passport ranking stands in sharp contrast to its position in the Global Peace Index, where it ranks 159th, making it the fifth least peaceful country in the world.
“The 20th anniversary edition of the Henley Passport Index illustrates that the strength of a passport is not measured solely by the level of peace in a country,” Daniel Shmeylin, director of the Israeli office of Henley & Partners, said.
Shmeylin said that despite geopolitical challenges, passport strength remains one of the most significant indicators of a country’s standing on the global stage. Israel’s ranking reflects that reality, he said.
The Henley Passport Index, based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association, is marking its 20th anniversary by examining how global mobility, diplomacy, and international influence have evolved since 2006 despite an increasingly complex and conflict-ridden geopolitical environment.
Israeli passport. (credit: NATI SHOHAT/FLASH90)Passport strength and global mobility
The company’s analysis found a strong correlation between peace and passport strength. Peaceful countries such as Singapore, Japan, Switzerland, and Ireland tend to rank highly for global mobility, while conflict-affected countries, including Afghanistan, Syria, and Yemen, have some of the world’s weakest passports.
“The Henley Passport Index is the original and most authoritative ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa,” Henley & Partners said.
Henley & Partners chairman and Passport Index creator Dr. Christian H. Kaelin said two decades of data show that passport strength reflects a country’s geopolitical influence. Countries with the most powerful passports are often regarded as desirable partners in trade, investment, security, and international cooperation, he said.
Kaelin added that freedom of movement reflects the value other countries place on their relationship with a particular nation.
Global peace deteriorates for the 12th consecutive year
According to the Institute for Economics and Peace, the number of conflicts involving countries has reached its highest level since World War II. Global peace has declined for the 12th consecutive year, with 119 of the 163 countries assessed now considered less peaceful than they were in 2008.
The institute also found that 103 countries were involved in external conflicts over the past five years, nearly twice the number recorded when the index was launched.
Several countries, including Israel, the US, France, Ukraine, and the UAE, have passport rankings that are significantly higher than their peace scores would suggest.
The analysis found that diplomacy, geopolitical influence, economic strength, regional ties, and confidence in state institutions can outweigh domestic or regional instability in determining international mobility. Israel and the US were identified as the clearest examples of this trend.