Owning a passport opens up a world of possibility and freedom for travellers - or so you would think . In some countries around the world , even if you are lucky enough to have access to the government-issued documents , you are still restricted and barred from several countries . Henley and Partners created a Visa Restrictions Index , which ranks countries globally in accordance to the travel freedom their inhabitants enjoy - with some surprising results . Scroll down for video . The Visa Restrictions Index analyses countries ability to travel visa-free . The latest results were based on results from May 20 , 2014 . 1 ) Finland . = Germany . = Sweden . = USA . = United Kingdom ( 174 points ) 2 ) Canada . = Denmark ( 173 points ) 3 ) Belgium . = France . = Italy . = Japan . = Korea ( Republic of South ) = Luxembourg . = Netherlands . = Portugal . = Spain ( 172 points ) Where it might be expected that countries such as North Korea and possibly Cuba could take the bottom spots for the most restricted travel freedom , they actually place at 86 and 69 respectively , from a ranking of a total of 94 . Each country was given a score by global consulting firm Henley and Partners , who specialise in residence and citizenship planning . The score was calculated based on visa regulations of all countries and territories in the world , and the number of other countries that their citizens can travel to without having to obtain a visa . Taking the lowest spots were Afghanistan ( ranked at 94 and able to visit 28 countries visa-free ) , Iraq , ( able to visit 31 countries ) , Pakistan and Somalia ( able to visit 32 countries ) and the Palestinian Territory ( able to visit 35 ) . This was juxtaposed by Finland , Germany , Sweden , the UK and the US , in first position , who are able to access 174 countries visa-free . Henley and Partners said : 'In today 's globalised world , visa restrictions play an important role in controlling the movement of foreign nationals across borders . 'Almost all countries now require visas from certain non-nationals who wish to enter their territory . 'Visa requirements are also an expression of the relationships between individual nations , and generally reflect the relations and status of a country within the international community of nations . ' Pakistani Khyber Gateway to the Khyber Pass stamps passports are you leave for Afghanistan , passports from this country are able to enter on 32 countries visa-free . Nepal ranked 90th with residents being able to visit 37 countries without a visa . 89 ) Eritrea . = Libya . = Sudan . = Syria ( 38 points ) 90 ) Nepal ( 37 points ) 91 ) Palestinian Territory ( 35 points ) 92 ) Pakistan . = Somalia ( 32 points ) 93 ) Iraq ( 31 points ) 94 ) Afghanistan ( 28 points ) Pakistan is ranked at 92 in the Visa Restrictions Index , and citizens are able to visit 32 countries including Trinidad and Tobago , Haiti , and Dominica without a visa . Despite this freedom , stepping over the Pakistani border into India and Iran does requires a visa . At the bottom of the list are the citizens of Afghanistan who are banned from entering Kuwait entirely . They can , however , travel to Micronesia , Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Haiti without a visa entirely though . The index reflected the decision in 2014 to allow citizens of the UAE to be allowed short stays in the EU Schengen countries without a visa , moving them up the rankings in the travel freedom index . A UN World Tourism Organization ( UNWTO ) report stated that three-quarters of people in the world travelling to Europe need a visa . According to the latest Visa Openness Report by the UNWTO , 62 per cent of the world ’ s population was required a traditional visa prior to departure in 2014 , down from 77 per cent in 2008 . A total of 19 per cent of the world ’ s population was able to enter a destination without a visa , while 16 per cent could receive a visa on arrival ( compared to 17 per cent and 6 per cent in 2008 ) . Somalia , ( left ) , was ranked 92nd , allowing visa-free access to 32 countries . Iraq passports , ( right ) , enable citizens to visit 31 countries visa-free . One of the most restricted passports is that of Somalian citizens , who are barred from Belgium and Canada .
Henley and Partners 's Visa Restrictions Index calculates travel freedom . It is based on the number of countries citizens can visit visa-free . The best passports include those from Finland , USA , Germany and the Iraq . Lowest ranking countries include UK , Afghanistan and Pakistan .