বুধবার, ০৮ জুলাই ২০২৬, ০৮:২২ অপরাহ্ন
Bangladesh has ranked 166th in the Global Passport Index (GPI) 2026, trailing most of its South Asian neighbours in a global assessment of passport strength based on mobility, investment potential and quality of life.
According to the index, the Bangladeshi passport currently provides visa-free access to 17 countries.
Bangladesh passport holders also enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival entry to destinations including Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, the Bahamas, Dominica, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Grenada and The Gambia.
However, visas are required for travel to around 116 destinations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, China and Japan.
Among South Asian countries, the Maldives secured the highest position at 107th, followed by India at 125th, Bhutan at 132nd, Sri Lanka at 141st and Nepal at 164th.
Bangladesh ranked ahead of only Pakistan, placed 188th, and Afghanistan, which remained at the bottom of the global ranking.
Sweden topped the 2026 index with a score of 96.05 out of 100, followed by Switzerland, Finland, Germany and the Netherlands.
European countries occupied nine of the top 10 positions. Denmark, Ireland, the United Kingdom and Norway were also among the top-ranked countries, while Singapore, in 10th place, was the only non-European country in the top 10.
At the other end of the index, Afghanistan scored 23.10 and remained last. Somalia, South Sudan, Yemen and Syria completed the bottom five.
The 2026 index, published by international residency and citizenship advisory firm Global Citizen Solutions, assessed 197 countries and territories using 14 indicators.
Unlike conventional passport rankings that focus mainly on visa-free access, the GPI measures passport value through three weighted pillars – Enhanced Mobility, which accounts for 50% of the score, and Investment and Quality of Life, each carrying a 25% weight.
The assessment also considers factors such as healthcare, economic competitiveness, safety, taxation, climate and social infrastructure.
According to the report, Sweden’s position at the top reflected its strong performance across all three pillars, combining broad global mobility with a high standard of living and a favourable investment environment.
