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Irish passport ranked among top 10 most powerful in the world

THE Irish passport remains one of the most powerful in the world, according to the latest figures.

The 2019 Henley Passport Index found that Irish passports are now the seventh most useful in terms of allowing visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to foreign countries.

It fell two spots from last year’s index despite gaining ease of access to 11 more nations over the past 12 months.

Overall, the Irish passport now allows easy access to 184 countries — six fewer than first-placed Japan.

Belgian, Canadian and Greek passports shared seventh place with Ireland as they also allow their holders visa-free access to 184 countries.

Japan came in first place while Iraq and Afghanistan shared the bottom spot (Image: Getty)

In joint second place are Singapore and South Korea, whose citizens can visit 189 destinations without having to secure a visa before traveling.

Germany and France are ranked in third place with visa-free access to 188 nations, while the US and the UK continue to falter - having slid to joint sixth place from their position at the top of the index in 2015.

In fourth place are Denmark, Finland, Italy, and Sweden — while Spain and Luxembourg are joint fifth.

Meanwhile, at the bottom of the 2019 rankings are Iraq and Afghanistan — whose citizens enjoy visa-free access to just 30 destinations around the world.

Check out the best and worst passports across the globe below:

Most powerful passports

1. Japan

2. Singapore

2. South Korea

3. France

3. Germany

4. Finland

4. Denmark

4. Italy

4. Sweden

5. Luxembourg