Nigeria lags in global passport rankings, placing 92nd
Nigeria is ranked 92nd on the Henley Passport Index, underscoring the difficulties its citizens encounter regarding international travel freedom.
The index assesses countries based on the number of destinations their passport holders can access without a prior visa. It reveals Nigeria’s relatively low standing compared to many other countries.
The Henley Passport Index, considered the leading authority on passport rankings, uses exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association, supplemented by research from Henley & Partners. It evaluates 199 passports and 227 travel destinations, serving as a key reference for global citizens and governments assessing passport strength.
In the latest update, Singapore leads with the world’s most powerful passport. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Japan are tied for second place, while South Korea, Finland, Sweden, Austria, Ireland, Netherlands, and Luxembourg share third place.
European countries dominate the top positions, with Denmark, Belgium, New Zealand, the UK, Norway, and Switzerland all in fourth place. Australia and Portugal are ranked fifth, Greece and Poland sixth, and Malta, Canada, Czechia, and Hungary are in seventh place, with the United States in eighth.
Other notable rankings include the UAE, Estonia, and Lithuania in ninth place, while Iceland, Latvia, Slovakia, and Slovenia complete the top ten. In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is ranked 56th, with Iran just below Nigeria at 94th.
African countries are also positioned in the lower half of the index, with South Africa at 47th and Egypt at 87th. The lowest ranks are occupied by countries facing severe conflict and instability, such as Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
The Henley Passport Index, with 19 years of historical data, remains unique for its use of exclusive information from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA). The index covers 199 passports and 227 travel destinations, and is updated monthly, serving as the primary reference for evaluating passport strength globally.
Thursday assessment of the ranking, suggested that President Bola Tinubu should focus on improving Nigeria’s global perception by investing in perception management, combating corruption, enhancing developmental indicators, addressing insecurity, and raising living standards to address the factors driving irregular migration.
