Nigeria Ranks 45th in Africa for Passport Strength, 90th Globally

Nigeria's passport has been ranked the 45th strongest in Africa and 90th globally in the July 2026 Henley & Partners passport index. Nigerian passport holders can travel visa-free or with visa-on-arrival access to 44 destinations worldwide.

This latest ranking places Nigeria among the continent's weaker passports, sharing the 90th global position with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Only a few African nations rank lower on the index. In contrast, South Africa has maintained its status as having the most powerful passport in Africa, climbing to 49th globally. South African passport holders enjoy visa-free access to 101 destinations, making it the only African country offering access to over 100 countries without a prior visa.

Other African countries with strong passport rankings include Botswana, which is second on the continent and 61st globally with access to 81 destinations, followed by Namibia in third place (65th globally) with access to 74 countries. Lesotho ranks fourth in Africa (66th globally) with access to 73 destinations, while Eswatini and Morocco share fifth place on the continent and 67th globally, offering visa-free access to 71 countries.

Globally, Singapore leads the rankings as the world's most powerful passport, granting access to 192 destinations. Japan follows in second place with access to 188 destinations, while South Korea and the United Arab Emirates share third place with access to 187 countries each. At the bottom of the list, Afghanistan remains the weakest passport globally, with access to only 22 destinations.