Iraqi passport ranks among world's weakest in Henley index

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Iraqi passport ranked third among the world's weakest passports in the Henley Passport Index's August 2026 data, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 28 destinations. Afghanistan topped the list with 22 destinations, followed by Syria with 25 and Pakistan with 29, while Yemen placed fifth with 30. Somalia (32), Nepal (34), North Korea (35), Iran (37) and Eritrea (38) rounded out the lower end of the ranking. The Henley Index, one of the widely cited measures of global passport travel access, draws its data from the exclusive records of the International Air Transport Association. The latest ranking reaffirmed that Iraqi citizens hold one of the most restricted passports for international travel ahead of any visa requirement. The index, compiled by London-based Henley & Partners, ranks 199 passports worldwide based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. The full August 2026 ranking covers additional tiers above the bottom ten, with stronger passports offering access to well over 150 destinations without prior visas.