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Best and Worst Passports of 2019 – Could Being White Have Something to do With It?
The latest controversy on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter has arisen off the back of a recent CNN report that revealed the top ten most accepted passports in the world are from predominantly white countries. Taken from the Henley Passport Index, which ranks countries based on the number of destinations their passport holders can enter without having to obtain a visa beforehand, the CNN report has sparked outrage among people who wish for greater diversity in the travel industry. Considering every year families from all over the world use the help of a family destination guide to choose where they’d like to visit on their next holiday abroad, is it really fair that people from non-Europeans countries have limited options for their next vacation spot?
The Best Passports of 2019
Despite the majority of the top passports being from countries with a European background, it might be surprising to know that the top two passports are actually Japan and Singapore, both countries in Asia. These passport holders are allowed to travel to 188 countries without securing a visa before setting off. South Korea is also at the top of the list, coming in third place.
While this might sound promising, it is discouraging to find that the rest of the list consists entirely of either European countries or countries with European heritage such as the U.S. and Australia.
The full list of countries in the top ten, which can access at least 180 countries across the world without a visa is: Finland and Germany, followed by Italy, Luxembourg, France, Spain, and Sweden. Next with access to 185 countries are Austria, the Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Canada, Greece, Ireland, Norway, United Kingdom, United States, and Switzerland. Next on the list is Malta, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Australia, Lithuania, and Slovakia. Rounding out the bottom with access to 180 countries is Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, and Slovenia.
The Worst Passports of 2019
In the list of the world’s current worst passports, war-torn, predominantly Muslim countries make up the majority of the bottom ten countries. Additionally, dictatorships like North Korea are also on the list.
But what is considered the worst passport in the world? Afghanistan; whose passport holders can only access 25 countries without a visa. Other ‘bad’ passports with limited accessibility to the rest of the world are Lebanon, North Korea, Nepal, Libya, Palestinian Territory, Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan, Syria, and Iraq.
Family Destination Guide: Who has the most privilege?
When comparing the lists of the best and worst passports, it is easy to see that those from the white, Western world can choose anywhere they want in a family destination guide for their summer holiday abroad. For families from predominately Muslim countries, it is unfortunately not so easy. Despite benefiting greatly from colonialism and exploitation of cheap labor in some of these areas, European economic superpowers are not so keen to let these people visit their countries without first undergoing strict visa procedures – which can be very frustrating. The hypocrisy is blatant; although there is still light at the end of the tunnel. With the growth of economies in Asia along with a rapidly strengthening of influence from the United Arab Emirates, more and more families from across the world are gaining the freedom to travel wherever they wish.
Harper Harrison is a reporter for The Hear UP. Harper got an internship at the NPR and worked as a reporter and producer. harper has also worked as a reporter for the Medium. Harper covers health and science for The Hear UP.
