Nigerian passport drops to 90th in global ranking, access still limited to 44 destinations
By Aboki Forex —
Nigeria's passport has slipped to 90th place in the latest Henley Passport Index for July 2026, falling one spot from its 89th position in April 2026. Holders can still access only 44 destinations without a prior visa, a figure that has not changed, but other nations improved their rankings, pushing Nigeria down.
What the Henley Passport Index shows
The Henley Passport Index, now marking its 20th year, ranks 199 passports based on how many destinations holders can enter visa-free. It uses data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and covers 227 travel destinations. Nigeria now shares the 90th spot with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Turkmenistan, both of which also offer visa-free access to 44 destinations.
The drop comes even though Nigeria's visa-free score stayed the same. The country had climbed six places from 95th to 89th between January 2024 and April 2026, but its visa-free access actually fell from 45 to 44 destinations during that period. According to Henley's April 2026 report, Nigeria lost visa-free access to Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mauritania, São Tomé and Príncipe and Somalia in recent years. It gained access to several Pacific island destinations, which partly balanced the losses.
How Nigeria compares to African peers
Several African countries continue to outperform Nigeria. South Africa holds the continent's strongest passport, ranking 49th globally with visa-free access to 101 destinations. Botswana is 61st with 81 destinations, and Morocco ranks 67th with 71 destinations. Kenya shares 68th place with access to 70 destinations, while Ghana is 70th with 67 destinations. These rankings place Nigeria behind many of its African peers, despite being one of Africa's largest economies and most populous countries.
Global leaders and laggards
Singapore remains the world's most powerful passport, offering visa-free access to 192 destinations. Japan is second with 188, while South Korea and the United Arab Emirates share third place with 187 each. The United States ranks 10th, with its citizens able to enter 180 destinations without a visa. At the bottom, Afghanistan is the weakest passport, with access to only 22 destinations. Syria ranks 103rd with 25, and Iraq is 102nd with 28.
What this means for Nigerian travellers
The persistent low ranking means Nigerian passport holders continue to face strict visa requirements in most parts of the world. While some countries in Asia now offer visa-on-arrival or Electronic Travel Authorisation, making travel easier for tourism and business, the overall picture remains challenging. The drop in ranking, even without a change in visa-free access, shows that other nations are making faster progress in expanding travel freedom for their citizens.