Most powerful passport in the world revealed with this surprising country beating Germany

Most powerful passport in the world revealed with this surprising country beating Germany.

The most powerful passport in the world has been revealed in the latest survey by law firm Henley & Partners.

Countries are ranked by how many destinations the holder can travel without needing a visa.

Published every year, Germany has come out on top for a number of years in the survey

In a surprise shift, the top spot now has a different country taking the lead in the Henley Passport Index 2018.

The United Kingdom fares well, coming in fourth with 177 visa-free countries

Japan has joined in first place with Singapore, as they both have 180 countries that can be travelled to visa-free.

Germany has been knocked to the second place, whilst third is joint with France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and South Korea.

The United Kingdom fares well, coming in fourth with 177 visa-free countries for travel, along with Portugal, Austria, Norway and Luxembourg.

The worst for travel included Afghanistan (24 countries), Iraq (27 countries) and Syria (28 countries).

One country improved the most, with Ukraine gaining another 16 countries for visa-free travel, taking them to 118 countries.

The most powerful passport in the world has been revealed in the latest survey by law firm Henley & Partners.

Countries are ranked by how many destinations the holder can travel without needing a visa.

Published every year, Germany has come out on top for a number of years in the survey

In a surprise shift, the top spot now has a different country taking the lead in the Henley Passport Index 2018.

The United Kingdom fares well, coming in fourth with 177 visa-free countries

Japan has joined in first place with Singapore, as they both have 180 countries that can be travelled to visa-free.

Germany has been knocked to the second place, whilst third is joint with France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Finland, Sweden and South Korea.

The United Kingdom fares well, coming in fourth with 177 visa-free countries for travel, along with Portugal, Austria, Norway and Luxembourg.

The worst for travel included Afghanistan (24 countries), Iraq (27 countries) and Syria (28 countries).

One country improved the most, with Ukraine gaining another 16 countries for visa-free travel, taking them to 118 countries.

Financial commentator Jim Rogers commented on the index and what it means for the future of travel: “The 19th century was a period with virtually no wars and lots of open borders, open trade, open everything.

“That all ended in the 20th century, with much disaster.

“I’m afraid we’re now coming back to a period where people are closing off instead of opening up.

"We’re not going to have a very simple and stable world in the next 20 or 30 years, maybe even longer.”

The most expensive passports in the world have previously been revealed with the UK also doing well in the list.

Most powerful passports: The United Kingdom is also well connected with 177 countries

1 Japan, Singapore 180

2 Germany 179

3 France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, South Korea 178

4 Portugal, Austria, UK, Norway, Luxembourg 177

5 Canada, Switzerland, Ireland, US 176

6 Australia, Greece, Belgium 174

7 Malta, New Zealand, Czech Republic 173

8 Iceland 172

9 Hungary 171

10 Latvia 170.