Hong Kong falls to 19th place in global passport rankings

Citizens can enjoy visa-free access to 168 countries.

Hong Kong fell down two notches to hold 19th place on the Henley Passport Index, with visa-free access to 168 countries.

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Despite the decline, the Hong Kong passport has experienced considerable growth over the years. For instance, in 2014, holders of the passport could access 156 countries, meaning the city's passport power has increased by 12 score points over the last 5 years to its 168 now.

Close regional competitor Singapore still remains as the most powerful passport in the world together with Japan with visa-free access to 189 countries.

For North Asia, Japan is the global and regional leader, together with South Korea and Hong Kong holding 2nd and 3rd place in the region.