German citizens possess the world's most powerful passport, according to an annual study, with Britain and the US falling just short of the top spot.
一项年度调查显示，德国公民的护照是世界上最强大的，接下来是英国和美国护照。
The ranking by Henley & Partners, a citizenship and planning firm, takes into account how many countries can be visited without applying for a visa.
该调查由提供移民项目的亨氏顾问公司（Henley & Partners）执行。该公司根据公民可免签前往国家的数量对各国护照进行了排名。
German passport holders can travel to 177, out of a possible 218, while Britons can visit 175 and US citizens 174.
在全球约218个国家中，持有德国护照的居民可以免签前往177个国家，英国护照可免签前往175个国家，美国护照则是174个。
The UK topped the 2015 rankings, alongside Germany, but ceded the top spot after several countries relaxed visa restrictions to the latter. It was also leapfrogged by Sweden and now shares third place with France, Italy, Spain and Finland.
2015年英国和德国在该榜单上并列第一，但之后有几个国家对德放开了签证限制，使得德国跃居第一。而瑞典赶超了英国，位居第二。现在英国和法国、意大利、西班牙和芬兰并列第三。
Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands share fourth spot with the US.
比利时、丹麦、荷兰和美国并列第四。
The world's least powerful passport belongs to citizens of Afghanistan, who can visit just 25 countries without a visa.
全球最弱的护照来自阿富汗，阿富汗公民只可以免签前往25个国家。
"Generally, there was significant movement across the board with only 21 of the 199 countries listed remaining in the same rank," said Henley & Partners.
亨氏顾问公司说：“总体来说，此次排名的变动很大，列出的199个国家中只有21个与之前的排名相同。”
"No country, however, dropped more than three positions, indicating that overall, visa-free access is improving around the world.
“但是没有国家下降超过三个名次，这意味着，总体上全球免签入境正在增多。”
"Four countries in particular made huge gains; Tonga rising 16 spots, Palau by 20, Colombia by 25 and Timor-Leste being the highest climber with an increase of 33 ranks.
“有四个国家进步很大：汤加上升16位，帕劳20位，哥伦比亚升了25位，东帝汶上升最多，往上升了33位。”
"Malta, the EU member country which runs the world’s most successful citizenship-by-investment program has gained visa-free access to another two countries since 2015, making it the 8th most powerful passport in the world.
“欧盟成员国马耳他实行世界上最成功的‘投资获国籍’项目。从2015年以来，它又新增了两个免签国家，排名变为第八。”
"The leading country in the Caribbean, Antigua and Barbuda, meanwhile ranked 30th and its passport-holders may now travel to 134 countries visa-free.
“加勒比的主要国家安提瓜和巴布达排名30，可以免签去134个国家。”
"Portugal, which holds the most attractive residence-by-investment program through its Golden Visa Program, has taken 6th position in the 2016 Index, gaining two countries to total 172 countries its citizens may travel to visa-free.The global progress in travel freedom looks set to continue for citizens of all countries."
“葡萄牙的‘黄金签证’投资落地政策最吸引人。2016年葡萄牙排名第6，新增2个免签国家，免签国家总数达到172个。各个国家的公民全球免签旅行的机会都在不断增加。”
The world's most powerful passports
全球最强护照国
1. Germany, 177 countries can be visited without a visa1.
德国，177个免签国家
2. Sweden, 1762.
瑞典，176 个免签国家
3. Finland, France, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, 175
芬兰、法国、意大利、西班牙、英国，175个免签国家
4. Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, United States, 174
比利时、丹麦、荷兰、美国，174个免签国家
5. Austria, Japan, Singapore, 173
奥地利、日本、新加坡，173个免签国家
6. Canada, Ireland (Republic of), Korea (Republic of, South), Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Switzerland, 172
加拿大、爱尔兰、韩国、卢森堡、挪威、葡萄牙、瑞士，172 个免签国家
7. Greece, New Zealand, 171
希腊、新西兰，171个免签国家
8. Australia, 169
澳大利亚，169个免签国家
9. Malta, 168
马耳他，168个免签国家
10. Hungary, Czech Republic, Iceland, 167
匈牙利、捷克共和国、冰岛，167个免签国家
The world's least powerful passports
全球最弱护照国
1. Afghanistan, 25 countries can be visited without a visa
阿富汗，25个免签国家
2. Pakistan, 29
巴基斯坦，29个免签国家
3. Iraq, 30
伊拉克，30个免签国家
4. Somalia, 31
索马里，31个免签国家
5. Syria, 32
叙利亚，32个免签国家
6. Libya, 36
利比亚，36个免签国家
7. Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iran, Nepal, Palestinian Territory, Sudan, 37
厄立特里亚、埃塞俄比亚、伊朗、尼泊尔、巴勒斯坦、苏丹，37个免签国家
8. Kosovo, South Sudan, Yemen, 38
科索沃、南苏丹、也门，38个免签国家
9. Bangladesh, Congo (Democratic Republic of), Lebanon, Sri Lanka, 39
孟加拉国、刚果（民主共和国）、黎巴嫩、斯里兰卡，39个免签国家
10. Burundi, Korea (The Democratic People's Republic of Korea), Myanmar, 42
布隆迪、朝鲜、缅甸，42个免签国家