According to the July 2026 Henley & Partners report, the Nigerian passport now sits at 45th in Africa and 90th worldwide. Holders can currently travel to 44 locations without obtaining a visa beforehand or by receiving one upon arrival. This ranking places Nigeria among the bottom tier of African nations, matching the status of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
South Africa continues to hold the title for the most influential passport on the continent. Ranking 49th internationally, it is the sole African passport offering entry to over 100 destinations. Following South Africa are Botswana, which ranks 61st globally with 81 destinations, and Namibia, placing 65th with 74 destinations. Lesotho, Eswatini, and Morocco round out the top five African nations on the index.
This current standing for Nigeria represents a decline from previous months, as the nation had previously moved up to 89th place earlier in 2026. On a global scale, Singapore remains at the top, providing its citizens access to 192 countries. Japan takes the second spot with 188, while South Korea and the United Arab Emirates are tied for third with 187. Conversely, Afghanistan continues to hold the position of the world’s least powerful passport with access to only 22 countries.
