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Israel's passport climbs to record high in Henley Index despite conflicts

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Israel's passport reached a record 18th global ranking on the Henley Passport Index, its highest position in 20 years.
  • This ranking contrasts sharply with its 159th position on the Global Peace Index, highlighting a divergence between passport strength and national peace.
  • Henley & Partners noted that passport strength reflects geopolitical influence and diplomatic ties, not solely a country's peacefulness.

Israel's passport has achieved its highest-ever global ranking, securing the 18th position on the latest Henley Passport Index. This marks a significant milestone, as it is the best performance for the Israeli passport since the index's inception 20 years ago.

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 ShmeylinDirector of the Israeli office of Henley & Partners, commenting on the contrast between Israel's passport ranking and its peace index score.

However, this achievement stands in stark contrast to Israel's standing on the Global Peace Index, where it ranks 159th out of 163 countries, positioning it as the fifth least peaceful nation globally. Daniel Shmeylin, director of the Israeli office of Henley & Partners, commented that the strength of a passport is not solely determined by a country's level of peace.

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 & PartnersDescribing the methodology and authority of the Henley Passport Index.

Despite geopolitical challenges, Shmeylin emphasized that passport strength remains a key indicator of a nation's global standing. The Henley Passport Index, which uses data from the International Air Transport Association, analyzes how global mobility, diplomacy, and international influence have evolved. The company's findings indicate a strong correlation between peace and passport strength, with peaceful nations like Singapore and Japan ranking highly, while conflict-ridden countries such as Afghanistan and Syria have weaker passports.

Countries with the most powerful passports are often regarded as desirable partners in trade, investment, security, and international cooperation.

— Dr. Christian KaelinHenley & Partners chairman and Passport Index creator, explaining the broader implications of passport power.

Henley & Partners chairman Dr. Christian Kaelin stated that two decades of data show passport strength reflecting a country's geopolitical influence. He added that freedom of movement signifies the value other countries place on their relationships with a particular nation. The analysis also noted that several countries, including Israel, the US, and France, have passport rankings significantly higher than their peace scores suggest.

Freedom of movement reflects the value other countries place on their relationship with a particular nation.

— Dr. Christian KaelinHenley & Partners chairman and Passport Index creator, on the significance of global mobility.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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