Malaysian passport is now as powerful as American

The U.S. passport dropped out of the ranking's top 10 for the first time last month, and has stayed 12th, according to the update of the index with 20-year history by the London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners.

The U.S. held the number one ranking in 2014 but has experienced steady decline in passport strength since then.

"The declining strength of the U.S. passport over the past decade is more than just a reshuffle in rankings — it signals a fundamental shift in global mobility and soft power dynamics," said Christian H. Kaelin, chair of Henley & Partners, in a statement.

"Nations that embrace openness and cooperation are surging ahead, while those resting on past privilege are being left behind."

Last year, Malaysia's passport rose one place to become the 11th most powerful in the world but dropped one place in this year's ranking.

Many netizens in Malaysia still expressed national pride, celebrating the fact that their passport allows them to travel "almost everywhere visa-free."

Singapore holds the title of the world's most powerful passport, allowing visa-free entry to 193 destinations, followed by South Korea and Japan.

The Henley Passport Index tracks global travel freedom across 227 countries and territories, using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

It ranks 199 passports based on the number of destinations their holders can enter without obtaining a visa in advance. Updated regularly throughout the year to reflect changes in visa policies, the index is widely regarded as a key measure of global mobility.