Nigeria Passport Ranks 89th Globally

Nigeria’s passport has ranked 89th out of 199 countries in the 2026 Henley Passport Index. Henley & Partners released the latest edition of the index in January, using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) alongside expert analysis of shifts in global travel access.

Nigeria recorded mixed progress in 2025. The passport rose to 88th place in July, its strongest position in five years, before falling to 94th later in the year and recovering slightly to 89th in the latest ranking.

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Nigeria now shares the 89th position with Myanmar, with both countries posting a visa-free score of 44. The score reflects the number of destinations holders can enter without a prior visa, including countries that offer visas on arrival, electronic travel authorities, or visitor permits.

Within Africa, Nigeria ranked above only the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, Libya and Eritrea, making it the seventh least powerful passport on the continent.

Seychelles retained its position as Africa’s strongest passport, followed by Mauritius and South Africa.

Globally, Singapore remained the world’s most powerful passport, granting access to 192 destinations, while Afghanistan ranked last, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to just 24 countries.

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