SINGAPORE - The Singapore passport is among the top five most accepted passports in the world, with its citizens enjoying visa-free access to 173 cities and countries.

For a third consecutive year, Singapore was ranked No. 5 on the Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index. It shared the position with Japan and Austria this year.

Last year, Singapore passport holders could travel to 169 cities and countries without applying for a visa.

Singapore and Japan were the leading Asian countries on the index this year.

Germany took the top spot, with its citizens enjoying visa-free access to 177 places.

Sweden was ranked No. 2, while Finland, France, Italy, Spain and Britain were a joint third.

Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and the United States were ranked No. 4.

South Korea shared the sixth place with Ireland, Canada, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal and Switzerland.

The worst performing countries were Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq, with their citizens granted visa-free access to only 25, 29 and 30 countries respectively.

The index, produced with the International Air Transport Association, considers 219 destinations. The maximum score for any country is 218.