The decline in Indian passport sales is unexpected considering that over the past year, Indians’ ability to travel to most countries without a visa has increased.
India is now ranked one spot lower than it was in the previous year’s Henley Passport Index for 2024. According to India Today, the French passport is at the top of the list, with the Indian passport coming in at number 85.
The strength of a country’s passport determines its ranking in the Henley Passport Index. France has taken the top spot because its passport allows entry into 194 countries without the need for a visa.
Nonetheless, considering that Indians’ ability to enter most countries without a visa has grown during the past year, the drop in the number of Indian passports is unexpected. 62 countries will require no visa requirements for Indian passport holders in 2024 as opposed to 60 in 2023.
Regarding India’s neighbours, Pakistan remains at 106th place from the previous year, while Bangladesh has dropped from 101st to 102nd.
Surprisingly, the Maldives, with a passport that allows for visa-free travel to 96 countries, came in at number 58—much higher than India.
How the rankings are determined by the Henley Passport Index
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) provides specialized data covering 199 different passports and 227 travel destinations worldwide. This data analysis is used to create the rankings for the Henley Passport Index, which covers the past 19 years. Every month, the Index is updated.
According to the Henley Passport Index, an average of 58 countries were visa-free for travel in 2006. However, in 2024, after almost 18 years, that number has almost doubled to 111 nations.