The Nigerian passport has reached its highest position in five years, rising to 88th place out of 199 countries in the latest Henley Passport Index released on July 18.
The Henley Passport Index ranks passports based on the number of countries their holders can enter without a prior visa. The ranking is compiled using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and continuous expert analysis.
Nigeria now shares the 88th position with Ethiopia and Myanmar—countries it was previously grouped with when it ranked 91st earlier this year. Despite the three-place improvement, Nigerian passport holders still have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to only 45 destinations, maintaining the same level of travel freedom as in 2024, when it was ranked 92nd.
Over recent years, Nigeria’s passport performance has fluctuated. It ranked 90th in July 2023 but later dropped to 97th, trailing several African countries such as Burundi, Cameroon, and Liberia. In 2022, it was placed 98th, improving from a low of 103rd in 2021.
While the latest ranking shows progress, Nigeria’s passport remains among the least powerful in Africa—ranking ahead of only six countries on the continent: the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, Sudan, Eritrea, Libya, and Somalia.
In contrast, Seychelles retained its position as Africa’s top-ranking passport, offering visa-free access to 156 countries, although it slipped slightly in the global standings from 22nd to 24th place.
Globally, Singapore continues to lead the index with access to 193 destinations. Afghanistan remains at the bottom, with its citizens able to visit only 25 countries without a visa.
The United States, once ranked number one in 2014, has now fallen to 10th place, underscoring broader shifts in global travel mobility.
