Seychelles has the most powerful passport in Africa in 2025, climbing one spot to 24th globally with access to 156 destinations. Mauritius follows closely, ranked 27th worldwide with visa-free access to 149 countries.
According to the latest Henley Passport Index, Singapore, globally, remains at the top, holding the world’s most powerful passport in 2025 with visa-free access to 193 destinations out of a possible 227 global destinations.
Japan and South Korea came second with 190. In the third position are Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain, all of which have free access to 189 countries.
Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden are all ranked in the 4th position with their passports accessing 188 countries freely.
The index, compiled using exclusive Timatic data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), ranks passports by the number of countries one can visit without needing a visa in advance.
In Africa, Mauritius follows Seychelles closely, ranked 27th worldwide with visa-free access to 149 countries. South Africa sits in third place in Africa, ranking 48th globally with access to 103 destinations.
Notably, Morocco has overtaken Kenya and now ties with Malawi at 67th globally, offering access to 73 countries. Kenya dropped to 69th with visa-free access to 71 countries.
Kenya continues to hold the most powerful passport in East Africa in 2025 ranking 69th globally, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 71 destinations. This places it ahead of all other East African countries, maintaining the lead it held in the previous year.
Mauritius follows closely, ranked 27th worldwide with visa-free access to 149 countries. South Africa sits in third place in Africa, ranking 48th globally with access to 103 destinations.
Notably, Morocco has overtaken Kenya and now ties with Malawi at 67th globally, offering access to 73 countries. Kenya dropped to 69th with visa-free access to 71 countries.
Nigeria’s passport climbed to its highest global ranking in five years, ranking 88th out of 199 countries. Despite the gain, the Nigerian passport remains one of the least powerful on the African continent. It surpasses only six countries: the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Sudan, Eritrea, Libya and Somalia.
Tanzania ranks 70th with access to 70 destinations, Uganda is 71st with 67 destinations, Rwanda 73rd with 63, Burundi 86th with 48, while South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo both rank 90th with access to 43 destinations each.
Other African countries with relatively strong passports include Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Malawi, and Morocco.
Seychelles holds strongest passport in Africa in 2025, ranks 25th globally
