• Only Seychelles, Mauritius, and South Africa rank in the global Top 50 for passport power.
• Seychelles passport provides visa-free access to 156 destinations, the highest in Africa.
• Eritrea, Libya, and Somalia hold the bottom spots in Africa, with the fewest visa-free destinations.

The Henley Passport Index ranks the world’s passports by the number of places holders can visit without needing a visa beforehand. It published its latest ranking on July 22, 2025. According to the index, Seychelles leads Africa in passport power, placing 25th globally. Its passport allows visa-free travel to 156 destinations.

The index evaluates 227 destinations and includes visa-on-arrival, visitor’s permits, and electronic travel authorizations (ETA). It uses data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), tracking over 250 airlines worldwide.

Mauritius ranks second in Africa and 27th globally, granting access to 1

49 destinations without visa requirements. South Africa follows in third place across the continent, ranked 48th worldwide, with access to 103 destinations.

Other African nations follow, including Botswana (59th, 85 destinations), Namibia (63rd, 79 destinations), Lesotho (65th, 76 destinations), Eswatini (66th, 74 destinations), Malawi and Morocco (both 67th, 73 destinations), Kenya and The Gambia (both 69th, 71 destinations).

At the lower end of the African passport rankings, Eritrea takes 94th place globally, Libya 95th, and Somalia 96th, with the fewest visa-free destinations.

Globally, Singapore holds the top spot on the index, offering access to 193 destinations without a visa. It is followed by Japan, South Korea, and Denmark.

Africa’s Passport Rankings: Q3 2025 (Henley & Partners)

Walid Kéfi