African Passports Strength and Weakness
African Passports Ranking
You may be intrigued to learn which African nations hold the most robust and weakest passports. In terms of global mobility, Africa presents a diverse range of passport powers. From South Africa to Nigeria, we’ve examined the continent’s passport strength and explored how one could potentially enhance their global mobility through the strategic acquisition of a second passport via investment.
La Vida’s Global Passport Ranking goes beyond the standard metrics of visa-free country counts. Instead, it assesses the qualitative aspects of travel, evaluating not just the number of destinations accessible but also their economic and touristic value. This comprehensive approach ensures that our rankings provide a nuanced perspective on global access, specifically tailored for the discerning high-net-worth investor seeking to broaden their international reach.
See our table below for the worldwide passport ranking of each country in Africa. The table lists the number of visa free countries for each passport along with their economic access (GDP %) and global travel popularity (Travel %).
Africa Passport Ranking Table
| Country | Rank | Countries | Visa Free% | GDP% | Travel% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mauritius | 55 | 159 | 70.0% | 61.9% | 76.6% |
 | Seychelles | 59 | 162 | 71.4% | 57.7% | 73.4% |
 | South Africa | 102 | 112 | 49.3% | 20.2% | 29.6% |
 | Botswana | 120 | 95 | 41.9% | 18.1% | 23.6% |
 | Namibia | 123 | 86 | 37.9% | 16.2% | 22.8% |
 | Lesotho | 124 | 87 | 38.3% | 18.1% | 19.4% |
 | Tunisia | 125 | 82 | 36.1% | 17.6% | 20.9% |
 | Eswatini | 126 | 85 | 37.4% | 13.1% | 17.9% |
 | Zambia | 131 | 81 | 35.7% | 10.8% | 17.5% |
 | Malawi | 133 | 83 | 36.6% | 10.0% | 15.6% |
 | Morocco | 134 | 75 | 33.0% | 10.7% | 18.0% |
 | Tanzania | 136 | 80 | 35.2% | 9.8% | 15.0% |
 | Cape Verde | 139 | 76 | 33.5% | 9.7% | 15.3% |
 | Kenya | 140 | 80 | 35.2% | 8.7% | 14.5% |
 | Zimbabwe | 143 | 75 | 33.0% | 9.6% | 14.5% |
 | Uganda | 144 | 77 | 33.9% | 8.9% | 13.9% |
 | Madagascar | 147 | 70 | 30.8% | 9.9% | 14.7% |
 | Gabon | 149 | 67 | 29.5% | 9.5% | 15.2% |
 | Sao Tome and Principe | 150 | 74 | 32.6% | 6.9% | 14.6% |
 | Benin | 151 | 69 | 30.4% | 9.3% | 14.2% |
 | Mozambique | 152 | 72 | 31.7% | 9.4% | 12.6% |
 | Gambia | 153 | 75 | 33.0% | 8.4% | 11.9% |
 | Rwanda | 154 | 73 | 32.2% | 8.7% | 9.8% |
 | Senegal | 155 | 67 | 29.5% | 8.5% | 12.2% |
 | Comoros | 156 | 63 | 27.8% | 9.0% | 13.4% |
 | Ghana | 157 | 73 | 32.2% | 8.3% | 9.5% |
 | Cote divoire | 159 | 67 | 29.5% | 8.3% | 10.5% |
 | Angola | 160 | 64 | 28.2% | 9.0% | 10.8% |
 | Mauritania | 162 | 66 | 29.1% | 5.9% | 12.8% |
 | Algeria | 163 | 66 | 29.1% | 5.4% | 13.2% |
 | Guinea | 164 | 62 | 27.3% | 7.7% | 12.6% |
 | Burkina Faso | 165 | 68 | 30.0% | 5.9% | 11.2% |
 | Mali | 166 | 63 | 27.8% | 8.1% | 10.3% |
 | Sierra Leone | 167 | 69 | 30.4% | 6.6% | 9.0% |
 | Niger | 168 | 63 | 27.8% | 7.3% | 10.8% |
 | Chad | 169 | 63 | 27.8% | 5.7% | 11.7% |
 | Burundi | 170 | 61 | 26.9% | 8.1% | 9.1% |
 | Egypt | 171 | 62 | 27.3% | 4.9% | 11.6% |
 | Djibouti | 172 | 59 | 26.0% | 7.2% | 10.2% |
 | Togo | 174 | 64 | 28.2% | 5.3% | 9.7% |
 | Equatorial Guinea | 177 | 64 | 28.2% | 4.1% | 9.6% |
 | Cameroon | 178 | 61 | 26.9% | 6.6% | 7.4% |
 | Liberia | 179 | 58 | 25.6% | 7.1% | 7.8% |
 | Central African Republic | 182 | 61 | 26.9% | 4.1% | 7.2% |
 | Eritrea | 183 | 53 | 23.3% | 6.4% | 7.3% |
 | Ethiopia | 185 | 54 | 23.8% | 4.4% | 8.8% |
 | Guinea-Bissau | 186 | 60 | 26.4% | 3.6% | 6.9% |
 | South Sudan | 187 | 55 | 24.2% | 3.9% | 8.7% |
 | Libya | 188 | 52 | 22.9% | 4.2% | 8.3% |
 | Congo Democratic Republic | 189 | 55 | 24.2% | 3.4% | 6.4% |
 | Congo Republic | 190 | 55 | 24.2% | 3.5% | 6.2% |
 | Sudan | 192 | 51 | 22.5% | 3.0% | 6.6% |
 | Nigeria | 195 | 54 | 23.8% | 2.1% | 3.1% |
 | Somalia | 197 | 45 | 19.8% | 2.2% | 5.8% |
AFRICA’S MOST POWERFUL PASSPORTS
Mauritius and Seychelles – Top Performers
Mauritius and Seychelles are closely ranked as Africa’s most powerful passports, offering their citizens remarkable global mobility and economic access. Mauritius, ranked 55th globally, provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 159 countries, covering 70% of the world and 61.9% of global GDP. Seychelles, ranked just slightly lower at 59th globally, surpasses Mauritius in visa-free access with 162 countries and access to 57.7% of global GDP. Although the figures differ slightly, the disparity is minimal, making both passports highly valuable. Investors might choose between them based on whether they prioritize broader economic reach with Mauritius or slightly greater travel flexibility with Seychelles. At present neither Mauritius or Seychelles offer a direct Citizenship by Investment programme. Mauritius do offer a residency by investment option, which may later lead to citizenship under the countries naturalization laws. A strong alternative is Grenada’s passport, ranked 51st in La Vida’s Passport Ranking. Citizenship by Investment in Grenada offers applicants a similar global reach at a lower cost than Mauritius’s Residency by Investment programme.
South Africa’s Passport: A Strong Contender
South Africa holds the third most powerful passport in Africa, though it ranks substantially lower compared to Mauritius and Seychelles. Positioned globally with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 112 countries, South African passport holders can access 49.3% of global GDP. While this passport offers considerable mobility and economic access, covering 29.6% of the world’s most desirable travel destinations, it lags behind the top two African passports in terms of global reach. Nonetheless, South Africa’s passport remains a valuable asset for investors and travelers, offering a balanced mix of accessibility and economic opportunity on the global stage.
AFRICA’S WEAKEST PASSPORTS
Conversely, passports from Somalia, Sudan, and Libya occupy the lowest rankings on the continent. Somalia’s passport, ranking 107th globally, exemplifies the limitations of weaker travel documents, offering visa-free access to only 34 countries. However, this also presents a unique opportunity for Somali nationals and others in similar positions to enhance their international mobility.
The Nigerian Passport – Room for Improvement
Nigeria, as Africa’s most populous nation and one of its largest economies, holds a passport that ranks 89th globally. Nigerian passport holders currently have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to only 46 countries, which places them in a mid-tier position on the continent. While this access is reasonable, it does limit global mobility compared to passports from countries like Seychelles or South Africa. For Nigerian citizens, the need for improved travel freedom is often tied to business and educational opportunities abroad. The limitations of the Nigerian passport can pose challenges, particularly for entrepreneurs and professionals who frequently travel for work, or families seeking to provide their children with international education options. This is where the strategic acquisition of a second passport becomes particularly valuable.
There are many second passport solutions for Nigerian citizens that can offer significant benefits. The Portuguese Golden Visa, for example, provides a pathway to citizenship within five years, expanding visa-free access from 46 to 187 countries. Alternatively, Caribbean citizenship by investment programmes, such as those in Grenada and Saint Kitts and Nevis, offer quicker paths to passports with access to over 140 countries. These options enhance global mobility, unlock business opportunities, and provide substantial value for Nigerian investors.
Discover the full list of African passports below and how they rank. If you are an African passport holder and would like to learn more on which second passport investment will be the most advantageous for you, please contact our expert advisors for your personalised passport report.