The Nigerian passport has been ranked as the 94th strongest in the world and 43rd in Africa, according to the latest Henley Passport Index. The index, which is considered the global standard for assessing passport strength, is based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which manages the world’s most comprehensive travel database.
This ranking marks a slight improvement for Nigeria, which moved up one place from 95th globally in 2024. Over the past four years, the Nigerian passport has fluctuated in the global rankings, from 103rd in 2021 to 94th in 2025, representing the highest position in that period.
At the top of the global index are Singapore and Japan, which held the first and second positions, respectively. Both countries continue to have some of the strongest passports, with their holders enjoying a significant number of visa-free travel destinations.
The Henley Passport Index also highlights a troubling trend for African passport holders. Despite accounting for just 2.8% of the global visa applications in 2023, Africans face high rejection rates, particularly for Schengen visas. In fact, one in two African applicants for Schengen visas were rejected last year, a rate that has more than doubled in the past decade.
This visa-related discrimination has raised concerns among Nigerians and other Africans about the impact of passport strength on their global mobility and treatment abroad. Many have expressed frustration not only with the limited visa-free access but also with the social and political challenges that arise from the perception of their passports in foreign countries.
Stephen Klimczuk-Massion, a former Oxford University Fellow and expert on global mobility, highlighted the broader implications of passport strength. In the 2022 Henley Global Mobility Report, he pointed out that the passport a person holds can significantly affect their travel experience, security, and even safety while abroad.
“Your passport can influence the way you are received, where you can go, and how safe you are when you get there. It’s not just a travel document—its strength or weakness can impact your quality of life and, in some cases, even be a matter of life and death,” Klimczuk-Massion remarked.
Looking ahead, Nigerians and other Africans continue to advocate for greater global mobility and improved perceptions of their passports, in hopes of reducing visa discrimination and expanding opportunities for travel and international relations.
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