Nigeria has been ranked as the 45th strongest passport in Africa and 90th globally, according to the July 2026 global passport ranking released by Henley & Partners. This ranking indicates that Nigerian passport holders have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 44 destinations.
The latest ranking positions Nigeria among the weakest passports on the continent, with the country tying with the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 90th place globally. Only a few African countries have a lower ranking than Nigeria on the index, highlighting the relatively limited travel freedom afforded to Nigerian citizens.
South Africa has retained its position as the most powerful passport in Africa, climbing to 49th globally with visa-free access to 101 destinations. This makes South Africa the only African country to provide access to more than 100 countries without requiring a prior visa, underscoring its strong passport.
Botswana has ranked second in Africa and 61st globally, with access to 81 destinations, followed closely by Namibia in third place on the continent and 65th worldwide with access to 74 countries. This demonstrates the relatively strong travel freedom enjoyed by citizens of these countries.
Lesotho occupies fourth place in Africa, ranking 66th globally with access to 73 destinations, while Eswatini and Morocco share fifth place on the continent and 67th globally with visa-free access to 71 countries. These rankings reflect the varying levels of travel freedom available to citizens of different African countries.
Nigeria’s latest position comes after the country experienced a slight improvement in its ranking between January 2024 and April 2026, rising from 95th to 89th globally despite a drop in visa-free access from 45 to 44 destinations. This shift highlights the complexities and fluctuations in global passport rankings.
Globally, Singapore has retained its position as the world’s most powerful passport, offering visa-free access to 192 destinations. Japan ranks second with access to 188 destinations, while South Korea and the United Arab Emirates share third place with access to 187 countries each, demonstrating their strong passport strengths.
The United States ranks 10th globally, with its passport granting visa-free access to 180 destinations, reflecting its relatively strong travel freedom. In contrast, Afghanistan remains the world’s weakest passport, with access to just 22 destinations, followed by Syria and Iraq, which have limited travel freedom.
The full list of African passport rankings includes South Africa in 49th place globally, with access to 101 destinations, São Tomé and Príncipe in 77th place, Côte d’Ivoire in 80th, Equatorial Guinea in 82nd, Central African Republic in 87th, Republic of the Congo in 88th, and Democratic Republic of the Congo in 90th, with Nigeria also in 90th place, having access to 44 destinations.
