Although some of us might not use a passport very often, but never underestimate the power of this important document. It determines the ease with which its holder can cross borders and explore new horizons.
Every year, Henley & Partners publishes a report that ranks countries based on their citizens’ travel freedom. It summarises how powerful are the passports from each country.
The Henley Passport Index ranks passports based on the number of countries that their holders can visit without the need for a visa before arrival. The ranking is determined by data provided by the International Air Transport Authority (IATA), which maintains the most extensive and precise database of travel information worldwide.
Singapore grabs the top spot of the most powerful passport with its citizens enjoying access to 195 travel destinations out of 227 around the world visa-free.
Malaysia and Liechtenstein shared the 12th spot with 182 visa-free destinations. Malaysia climbed two spots up from number 14th last year.
The countries which is ranked higher than Malaysia is ranked according to the following:
#1: Singapore
#2: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain
#3: Austria, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, South Korea, Sweden
#4: Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom
#5: Australia, Portugal
#6: Greece, Poland
#7: Canada, Czechia, Hungary, Malta
#8: United States
#9: Estonia, Lithuania, United Arab Emirates
#10: Iceland, Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia
#11: Croatia
The Methodology Behind Passport Ranking
The passport ranking in the Henley Passport Index is based on a comprehensive methodology that considers several factors. These include the number of countries a passport holder can access without a visa, the country’s diplomatic relations, and its international agreements.
