Nigerian Passport Rises to 88th in Global Ranking—Best Position in Five Years Despite Limited Travel Access

In a modest but notable climb, the Nigerian passport has reached its highest ranking in five years, moving up to 88th place out of 199 countries on the latest Henley Passport Index released July 18. Despite the improvement, Nigerian passport holders still have visa-free access to just 45 countries, reflecting limited global mobility.

The index, compiled using IATA data and expert analysis, shows Nigeria now shares the 88th spot with Ethiopia and Myanmar—up from its 91st position earlier this year. Although the leap signals progress from its previous low of 103rd in 2021, travel freedom remains largely unchanged.

Nigeria now ranks above only six African countries, while Seychelles remains Africa’s strongest passport despite a slight drop in global rank. On the global stage, Singapore holds first place with access to 193 countries, while Afghanistan remains last.

The United States, once the global leader in 2014, fell to 10th place in the latest rankings.

See top 10 ranking below;