LAGOS, Nigeria — The Nigerian passport has recorded its highest position in five years, rising to 88th out of 199 countries in the latest Henley Passport Index released on Friday, July 18, 2025.
Compiled by London-based Henley & Partners using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the index ranks passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.
The report is widely regarded as a benchmark for global mobility and travel freedom.
Nigeria now shares the 88th position with Ethiopia and Myanmar, a modest improvement from its earlier ranking of 91st in January 2025.
Despite the climb, the Nigerian passport still only grants visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 45 countries—largely unchanged from last year, when it ranked 92nd.
In recent years, Nigeria’s passport has seen fluctuating performance.
It ranked 90th in July 2023 before dropping to 97th by the end of the same year, trailing behind several African counterparts such as Burundi, Cameroon, and Liberia.
In 2022, it placed 98th, an improvement from a low of 103rd in 2021.
While the latest ranking reflects incremental progress, Nigeria still ranks near the bottom among African nations.
Only six countries on the continent ranked lower: the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, Sudan, Eritrea, Libya, and Somalia.
Seychelles remains Africa’s highest-ranked passport, though it dropped slightly to 24th place globally, with its holders able to travel to 156 countries without a visa.
The Indian Ocean island nation had previously stood at 22nd position in March 2025.
Globally, Singapore retained the top spot with visa-free access to 193 destinations, while Afghanistan remained at the bottom of the index, with its passport granting entry to just 25 countries.
The United States, once ranked first in 2014, continued its downward trend, falling to the 10th position on the list.
The Nigerian government has yet to comment on the latest rankings.
However, analysts suggest that incremental improvements in diplomatic ties and regional visa agreements may be contributing to the passport’s slight upward mobility.
Still, travel experts warn that the country’s low score reflects underlying security, economic, and administrative challenges that must be addressed to expand global mobility for its citizens.
