KATHMANDU: Sweden has been ranked the world’s most powerful passport in the Global Passport Index 2026 published by Global Citizen Solutions, while Nepal climbed two places from last year to rank 164th.

Unlike traditional passport rankings that primarily measure visa-free access, the index evaluates passports across 14 indicators, assigning 50 percent weight to global mobility and 25 percent each to investment opportunities and quality of life. The assessment is based on data from organizations including the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, and the Sustainable Development Report.

According to the report, Nepali passport holders have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 10 countries, including India, Palestine, Dominica, Micronesia, Haiti, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Singapore. However, prior visas remain mandatory for travel to about 107 destinations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, China, and Japan.

Among South Asian countries, Maldives ranked 107th, India 125th, Bhutan 132nd, Sri Lanka 141st, Nepal 164th, Pakistan 188th, and Afghanistan remained last at 197th. China was ranked 104th in the index.