Nigerian Passport Among World’s Worst: Ranked 191 Out of 199 Countries, Behind Libya, Afghanistan

In a recent report by VisaGuide’s World Passport Index, the Nigerian passport has been identified as one of the world’s least favorable travel documents. Ranking 191 out of 199 countries, it stands as the tenth worst passport globally, reflecting a consistent decline in value over the years.

The VisaGuide ranking system employs a unique Destination Significance Score (DSS) to assess the strength of passports based on multiple factors, such as visa requirements, GDP, power index, tourism index, and human development index. The Nigerian passport’s low ranking suggests limited access to other countries without extensive visa requirements.

Notably, the world’s top passport is from Singapore, with Italy, Spain, France, and Germany rounding out the top five. In contrast, countries ranking below Nigeria include North Korea (192), Iraq (193), Libya (194), Sudan (195), Pakistan (196), Afghanistan (197), Syria (198), and Somalia (199).

Henley Passport Index, another reputable passport ranking system, also listed Nigeria among the worst ten performing passports in its 2024 report. With travel data collected from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the index considers the number of countries a passport holder can visit without a visa. Nigeria’s green passport ranks 95th, with only 45 visa-free countries, compared to South Africa’s 108 visa-free nations.

This trend has shown a persistent erosion in Nigeria’s credibility with its international peers. Other African nations, including Ghana (76th), Benin Republic (79th), Togo (83rd), and Niger Republic (85th), all rank higher than Nigeria. Even countries often viewed as less stable, like Libya and Somalia, have passports with broader access.

These rankings indicate that Nigerian passport holders face more significant obstacles in global mobility, potentially impacting tourism, business, and international relations.