Nigeria has moved up one spot to 91st in the latest global passport ranking, out of 199 countries.
While this marks a slight improvement in Nigeria’s global standing, the travel freedom for its citizens remains limited. The country continues to have visa-free access to only 45 nations, the same as the previous year.
Nigeria shares the 91st position with Ethiopia and Myanmar, both of which are grappling with insurgencies, according to the Henley Passport Index for 2025. The Index is updated monthly using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
In Africa, Nigeria’s passport ranks near the bottom, above only a few others, including those from the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, Eritrea, Libya, and Somalia, making it the seventh least desirable passport on the continent. In 2024, it was ranked sixth.
This update comes as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, highlighted the ministry’s efforts in improving the country’s international reputation. “The next stage is to elevate Nigeria’s image,” Tuggar said during a press briefing in Abuja, referring to efforts in negotiating the release of wrongfully imprisoned Nigerians abroad. While Tuggar did not specify how this would be achieved, he emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to ethical foreign policy and collaboration with other nations.
Nigeria’s ranking has fluctuated over recent years; it was 90th in July 2023, dropped to 97th in the following months due to changes in visa policies, but made a comeback in 2024 by rising to 92nd.
Meanwhile, Seychelles remains the top African passport, climbing two spots to 22nd, granting access to 156 countries. Singapore retains the top global spot, offering visa-free entry to 193 countries, while Afghanistan continues to hold the bottom position with access to only 25 countries.
