Nigeria has raised one place to 91st in the latest 199 countries rankings for the latest global passport rankings.
While the ratings mark an improvement in Nigeria’s global image, travel access for citizens remains restricted, and the country retains visa-free access, the same as last year.
According to the Henry Passport Index (2025), Nigeria ranks 91st along with Ethiopia and Myanmar, with two countries fighting armed groups. The Henry Passport Index is updated monthly monthly based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Agency (IATA).
In Africa, Nigerian passports are in only a few places, including those of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), South Sudan, Sudan, Eritrea, Libya and Somalia, making it the least desired travel document in Africa. In 2024, this is the sixth place.
The rating comes after Foreign Minister Yusuf Tugggar said the ministry successfully redeems Nigeria’s image abroad. The minister said at a ministerial press conference in Abuja: “The next stage is to exaggerate and glorify the image of Nigeria.
Tugga did not articulate how the ministry would achieve this, but noted that the country was committed to using ethical considerations while liaisoning with other countries when implementing its foreign policy.
In July 2023, Nigeria ranked 90th on the global passport list, but later fell to 97th, down from Burundi, Cameroon and Liberia, reflecting a significant shift in the country’s visa policy. The passport later made a comeback in 2024 and climbed to 92nd place.
Meanwhile, Seychelles retained its status as the most popular African passport, raising its ranking to No. 22 (up from the previous year’s attractions) and gained 156 countries. Singapore remains the most powerful passport, entering 193 countries, while Afghanistan has obtained only 25 countries.
