Strongest Passports in Africa

A passport is a travel document, usually issued by a country’s government to its citizens, that certifies the identity and nationality of its holder primarily for the purpose of international travel.

African passports have generally experienced a decline in value over the last 10 years, according to statistics from the Henley Passport Index. The Henley Passport Index is the original ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. The ranking is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which maintains the world’s largest and most accurate database of travel information.

A passport from Seychelles opens more doors than a passport from anywhere else in Africa, according to the Henley Passport Index.
Seychellois passport promises uncomplicated travel to 151 other countries and territories and emerged as Africa’s most desirable passport in 2021. It is ranked 28th strongest passport in the world.

South Africa provides access to 101 destinations and is placed second this year, followed closely by Botswana and Namibia at the number 3 and 4 positions respectively. Botswana’s passport provides access to 85 destinations in the world without a prior visa, while Namibian passport can give access to 77 countries in the world without prior visa.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, sits at the 41st position. The West Africa country’s passport can provide access to only 46 countries in the world, and is ranked 97 globally.

Somalia has the weakest passport in Africa, according to the ranking. The passport provides access to only 33 other territories without a prior visa and occupies the 106th position globally.

Here are the countries with the Strongest Passports in Africa, according to the report

Countries, ranking (Continent, Global) and destinations:

Seychelles 1, 28 -151
South Africa 2, 54 – 101
Botswana 3, 62 – 85
Namibia 4, 68 – 77
Lesotho 5, 69 – 76
Eswatini (Swaziland) 6, 71 – 74
Malawi 7, 72 – 73
Kenya 8,73 – 72
Zambia 9, 74 – 71
Tanzania 9, 74 – 71
Tunisia 9, 74 – 71
Gambia 12, 75 – 68
Uganda 13, 76 – 67
Ghana 14, 78 – 65
Zimbabwe 14, 78 – 65
Morocco 16, 79 – 64
Sierra Leone 17, 80 – 63
Benin 18, 81 – 62
Mozambique 18, 81 – 62
Rwanda 20, 83 – 60
Burkina Faso 21, 84 – 59
Mauritania 21, 84 – 59
Cote d’ Ivoire 23, 86 – 57
Gabon 23, 86 – 57
Senegal 25, 87 – 56
Togo 26, 88 – 55
Guinea 26, 88 – 55
Madagascar 26, 88 – 55
Equatorial Guinea 26, 88 – 55
Niger 30, 89 – 54
Mali 30, 89 – 54
Guinea Bissau 32, 90 – 53
Chad 32, 90 – 53
Central African Republic 34, 91 – 53
Algeria 35, 92 – 52
Egypt 36, 93 – 50
Angola 36, 93 – 50
Liberia 38, 94 – 49
Cameroon 38, 94 – 49
Congo (Republic) 40, 95 – 48
Nigeria 41, 97 – 46
Ethiopia 42, 98 – 44
South Sudan 43, 99 – 43
Eritrea 44, 100 – 42
DR Congo 44, 100 – 42
Sudan 46, 102 – 40
Libya 47, 104 – 38
Somalia 48, 106 – 33