India secures 125th spot in Global Passport Index; Sweden tops list
Survey ranks passports based on global mobility, investment opportunities and quality of life, using 14 indicators
India has slipped one rank since 2025 to secure the 125th rank in the fifth annual edition of the Global Passport Index (GPI), published by Global Citizen Solutions (CGS).
Unlike other surveys, the GPI doesn’t only rank passports on the basis of visa liberties, but also on global mobility, investment opportunities and quality of life. It uses 14 indicators in the evaluation process.
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With the survey based on 197 countries, India was ranked just below Namibia and above Azerbaijan.
Overall improvement
Even though India slipped one place on the list compared to the 124th rank it secured last year, the current ranking shows an overall improvement since its 127th rank in 2021.
The report mentions that the Indian passport offers visa-free access to 26 countries, including Bhutan, Jamaica, Macau, Nepal, Palestine, Tunisia, Angola and Barbados.
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Visas, however, are mandatory to at least 88 countries including the US, the US, Germany, France, China, UAE and Andorra.
Key parameters
As far as the Enhanced Mobility Index – that accounts for 50 per cent of the score – is concerned, the survey ranks India in the 136th place, one position lower than its ranking in 2025. The category evaluates the travel advantages a passport offers and the attractiveness of a destination country based on its quality of life.
In the Quality of Living Index parameter, India jumped 11 places to secure the 118th rank. The indicator accounts for 25 per cent of the overall score and takes into account a country’s quality of life, including healthcare, education and personal safety.
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India has also improved in the Investment Index, moving three places up to rank 100.
Who topped the list?
This year, European countries continued to dominate the Top 10 list with Sweden grabbing the first place, followed by Switzerland, Finland, Germany and the Netherlands.
Also read: Passport as citizenship proof: Trial balloon for a larger agenda? The sixth spot was bagged by Denmark, followed by Ireland, the UK, and Norway. Singapore, which has been ranked 10, is the only Asian country in the Top 10 list.