The Henley Passport Index for 2024 has been released, with France securing the top spot, while India's passport ranking has slipped one place from last year, moving from 84th to 85th position.

This decline in India's ranking may come as a surprise, as while last year Indian passport holders could travel visa-free to 60 countries, this year that number has increased to 62.

The Henley Passport Index ranks nations based on the strength of their passports. In 2024, France leads the list, with its passport granting visa-free access to 194 countries.

Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain are also among the top-ranked countries alongside France.

Meanwhile, Pakistan maintains its position at 106th place, similar to last year, while Bangladesh has slipped from 101st to 102nd position.

India's neighbour, Maldives, continues to have a strong passport, maintaining its position at 58th place, with Maldivian passport holders enjoying visa-free travel to 96 countries.

India's drop in the rankings comes even after recent announcements from Iran, Malaysia, and Thailand offering visa-free entry for Indian tourists.

The Henley Passport Index derives its rankings from data spanning the past 19 years, based on the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) specialized data, covering 199 different passports and 227 travel destinations worldwide.

The index is updated monthly and serves as a global standard for citizens of independent countries.

The data from the Henley Passport Index indicates significant changes in global mobility over the past two decades. In 2006, people could travel visa-free to an average of 58 countries, while this year, that number has nearly doubled to 111 countries.

Source: India Today