Nigeria has recorded a significant improvement in the global ranking of its passport's travel freedom, according to the latest international report.
Nigeria's Passport Power on the Rise
The country has moved up 14 places in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, climbing from the 103rd position to a new rank of 89th in the world. The index, which evaluates 199 different national passports, measures strength based on the number of destinations holders can enter without requiring a prior visa. The data is compiled by the research team at Henley & Partners using official information from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
This advancement means that Nigerian passport holders can now visit 44 countries without needing to obtain a visa beforehand. While this marks progress, the report highlights that this capacity is still considered weak when measured against the top-performing passports on the African continent and globally.
African and Global Leaders in Passport Power
Within Africa, several nations continue to outperform Nigeria by a wide margin. Seychelles maintains its strong lead, holding the 24th global position with its citizens enjoying visa-free access to a remarkable 154 destinations. Mauritius follows closely in 27th place, while South Africa sits at 48th, offering its passport holders entry to 101 countries without a visa.
Other African nations also ranked higher than Nigeria in the 2026 assessment:
- Namibia (62nd)
- Morocco (65th)
- Malawi (66th)
- Kenya (68th)
- Tanzania and Ghana (joint 69th)
At the absolute pinnacle of the index, Singapore claims the number one spot, with its passport granting unrestricted access to 192 nations. Japan takes second place (188 countries), while a group of European nations including Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland share third place, each allowing visa-free travel to 186 destinations. Major Western nations like the United Kingdom (7th), Canada (8th), and the United States (10th) also feature in the top tier.
Room for Improvement Despite Progress
Despite its notable climb, Nigeria's passport remains among the 20 worst-performing globally, sharing this category with nations like Somalia. The bottom of the 2026 index is occupied by Afghanistan (101st), followed by Syria (100th), Iraq (99th), with Yemen and Pakistan at 98th, and Somalia at 97th.
The improvement in Nigeria's ranking reflects a positive shift in its international travel mobility. However, the gap between it and the leading African passports underscores the ongoing challenges and the potential for further diplomatic and policy efforts to enhance the passport's global acceptance.
