The Singapore passport has been ranked the “most powerful” in the world, according to the Global Passport Index released on Wednesday by global advisory firm Arton Capital.
The ranking is based on a “visa-free score,” which tabulates the number of countries a particular passport-holder can travel to without requiring a visa or a visa on arrival.
The Singapore passport topped the list with a visa-free score of 159, narrowly beating the German passport with a score of 158 and the Swedish passport with 157.
The list is usually dominated by European passports, with Germany holding the top position for the last two years.
However, Paraguay’s removal of visa requirements for Singapore passport holders propelled it to the top of the list in 2017.
“For the first time ever, an Asian country has the most powerful passport in the world.
“It is a testament of Singapore’s inclusive diplomatic relations and effective foreign policy,” Arton Capital Managing Director Philippe May said.
Other Asian countries that made it into the top 20 include South Korea, Japan and Malaysia.
Meanwhile, the U.S. passport has taken a tumble in rankings since President Donald Trump took office, following decisions by Turkey and the Central African Republic to revoke visa-free entry for U.S. passport-holders. (dpa/NAN)