The Nigerian passport has achieved its highest ranking in five years, securing the 88th position out of 199 countries in the latest Henley Passport Index, released on July 18.
This marks an improvement from its 91st spot earlier this year.
The Henley Passport Index, which is updated regularly using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) and expert analysis, assesses global passport power based on the number of destinations holders can access without a prior visa.
Despite the notable ascent in ranking, Nigeria shares its 88th spot with Ethiopia and Myanmar, the same nations it was grouped with when it previously ranked 91st.
Critically, the ranking boost has not translated into significantly increased travel freedom, as the Nigerian passport still grants visa-free access to only 45 countries – a figure consistent with last year’s access when it was ranked 92nd.
The journey for the Nigerian passport on the index has seen fluctuations in recent years.
In July 2023, it held the 90th position but then dropped to 97th later that year, falling below other African nations like Burundi, Cameroon, and Liberia.
Prior to that, it was ranked 98th in 2022, an improvement from its lowest point of 103rd in 2021.
In the current July 2025 index, Nigeria’s passport ranks above only six other African countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, Sudan, Eritrea, Libya, and Somalia, mirroring the pattern observed last year.
Globally, Singapore maintains its dominance with the most powerful passport, offering visa-free access to an impressive 193 nations. Afghanistan continues to hold the last position, with access to just 25 countries.
The United States, which was once at the top in 2014, has slipped further to the 10th spot in the current rankings.
Meanwhile, within Africa, Seychelles continues to hold its position as the continent’s most powerful passport, though it has slightly dropped to the 24th position globally, providing access to 156 nations. In March, Seychelles was ranked 22nd.
