Asia's most loved country sees passport down one place in global ranking

Citizens of Malaysia, which was voted the most loved country in Asia by American finance site Insider Monkey thanks to its friendly visa policy and beautiful landscape, now enjoy visa-free access to 183 out of 227 destinations, an increase from 179 in 2023, according to the Henley Global Mobility Report.

Last year, after Malaysia's passport rose one place to become the 11th most powerful in the world, many netizens expressed national pride, celebrating the fact that their passport allows them to travel "almost everywhere visa-free."

With visa-free access to 195 countries and territories, Singapore holds its title of having the most powerful passport in the world.

Japan now ranked second globally, providing its passport holders visa-free access to 193 destinations.

Finland, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, and Spain share the third position, granting visa-free access to 192 destinations.

The Henley Passport Index tracks global travel freedoms in 227 countries and territories using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association.

It ranks 199 passports based on the number of destinations their holders can enter without a prior visa. Continuously updated throughout the year to reflect changes in visa policies, the index is widely recognized as a key measure of global mobility.