Nigeria jumps up global passport index, secures 92nd position

Nigeria’s passport has been ranked 92nd in the world, according to a new report by Henley and Partners, which leverages data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Nigeria’s position has shifted notably over the past year.

In July 2023, the country was ranked 90th but has since fallen to 97th place, behind several African nations, including Burundi, Cameroon, and Liberia.

Nigeria’s citizens now enjoy visa-free travel to 45 destinations, tying them with Lebanon and Myanmar in the latest ranking.

On the African continent, Nigeria ranks sixth from the bottom, outperforming only South Sudan, Eritrea, Libya, and Somalia.

The Seychelles lead African countries with the highest global ranking, holding 24th place with access to 156 countries. Mauritius has climbed to 28th position, previously at 29th, with access to 150 countries.

South Africa ranks third in Africa and 47th globally, with access to 106 countries.

Singapore continues to hold the top spot globally, with its citizens enjoying visa-free entry to 195 countries, a rise of three from the previous year.

In second place, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Spain offer visa-free access to 193 destinations.

Belgium, Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom are in fourth place with access to 190 destinations.

Canada, along with the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Malta, holds the seventh spot, while the United States is eighth with access to 186 destinations.

The bottom of the index features Afghanistan in the last spot, with citizens able to access just 26 countries without a visa, while Syria and Iraq follow with 28 and 31 visa-free destinations, respectively.