[Singapore, Singapore]gnohz/Shutterstock * The Henley Passport Index, an annual ranking of the most powerful passports in the world based on how many countries the holder can enter without a visa, was just released. * Japan secured the top spot with access to 191 countries this year, a position it previously shared with Singapore. * Asia dominated the list, with Singapore landing in the No. 2 spot while South Korea tied with Germany for No. 3. * A US passport provides access to 183 countries in 2020, giving it an eighth place ranking. Passports from 16 other countries provide better access than the US. The country is also slipping in rank — last year it placed sixth. * Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. A passport from Japan opens more doors than a passport from anywhere else in the world, according to the newly released Henley Passport Index. The index is an annual power ranking of passports determined by the total number of countries a passport holder can enter without a visa. A Japanese passport promises uncomplicated travel to 191 other countries. In 2019, the passport promised access to 189 countries and tied with Singapore's passport for the world's most desirable travel document. Singapore maintained access to 189 countries and placed second this year, followed closely by South Korea and Germany with access to 187 countries. Passports from countries like Canada, the UK, and the US all slipped in the rankings from 2019 to 2020 — but they are still desirable, with access to over 180 countries. For comparison, passports from Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria offer access to less than 30 countries. Keep reading for a look at the countries with the most powerful passports, ranked by ascending number of visa-free travel options. We also included a comparative look at how each of these passports ranked in 2019. 10. THOSE HOLDING THE FOLLOWING PASSPORTS CAN VISIT 181 COUNTRIES WITHOUT A VISA IN 2020: gehringj/Getty HUNGARY 2019 ranking: 11 (access to 178 countries) LITHUANIA 2019 ranking: T9 (access to 180 countries) SLOVAKIA 2019 ranking: 10 (access to 179 countries) 9. THOSE HOLDING THE FOLLOWING PASSPORTS CAN VISIT 183 COUNTRIES WITHOUT A VISA IN 2020: Shutterstock AUSTRALIA 2019 ranking: T9 (access to 180 countries) CANADA 2019 ranking: T6 (access to 183 countries) CZECH REPUBLIC 2019 ranking: 8 (access to 181 countries) MALTA 2019 ranking: 7 (access to 182 countries) NEW ZEALAND 2019 ranking: T9 (access to 180 countries) 8. THOSE HOLDING THE FOLLOWING PASSPORTS CAN VISIT 184 COUNTRIES WITHOUT A VISA IN 2020: seanpavone/shutterstock BELGIUM 2019 ranking: T6 (access to 183 countries) GREECE 2019 ranking: T6 (access to 183 countries) NORWAY 2019 ranking: T6 (access to 183 countries) UNITED KINGDOM 2019 ranking: T6 (access to 183 countries) UNITED STATES 2019 ranking: T6 (access to 183 countries) SEE THE REST OF THE STORY AT BUSINESS INSIDER SEE ALSO: * I spent 3 nights in a hidden resort in Mexico that's beloved by wealthy bohemians and has an invite-only festival comparable to Burning Man. It was almost too wild to believe. * The oldest winery in America is 1.5 hours north of Manhattan, has a sprawling wine cave, and found a loophole so it could stay open during Prohibition. I spent an afternoon checking it out — here's what it's like. * The 17 best hotels in the world, according to travelers SEE ALSO: THESE ARE THE TOP 10 COUNTRIES TO RETIRE IN THIS YEAR, ACCORDING TO US EXPATS WHO HAVE ALREADY MADE THE MOVE DON'T MISS: THE 17 BEST HOTELS IN THE WORLD, ACCORDING TO TRAVELERS
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