CNN recently ran a review about travel, looking at passports and visas. The review revealed the average German citizen has the greatest opportunity to visit more countries without having to go through the red tape associated with visa applications.
German citizens can visit 177 of 218 countries without a visa. This is based on data collated by the Visa Restrictions Index. The index is compiled each year the by the law firm Henley & Partners.
Germany beats Sweden by one country. The full top 10 is:
1. Germany – 177 nations
2. Sweden – 176 nations
3. Joint third, with 175 nations are: Finland, France, Italy, Spain, U.K.
4. Joint forth, with 174 nations is: Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, U.S.
5. Joint fifth, at 173 countries, are: Austria, Japan, Singapore
6. Joint sixth, with 172 countries: Canada, Ireland, Republic of Korea, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland
7. Greece and New Zealand, with 171 nations
8. Australia, with 169 nations
9. Malta, with 168 nations
10. Hungary, Czech Republic and Iceland with visa free travel to 167 nations.
In bottom place, of the 104 countries surveyed, comes Afghanistan, where visa free travel is permitted in only 25 countries. A little way above is Pakistan at 29 and Iraq at 30. Afghanistan has been bottom of the travel freedom index for six years.
The review is based on permission to travel to the 193 Member States of the United Nations, plus: Taiwan, Kosovo, Palestinian Territory, Vatican City, Hong Kong (SAR China), Macao (SAR China) — a total of 199 ‘nations.’