Newly released statistics from the Henley Passport Index show an overall decline in the value of African passports over the past 10 years.
The report, which ranks passports based on their total visa-free score and data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), blames the decline in the value of African passports over political instability and conflict.
According to the New report, Seychelles holds the title for the most powerful passport in Africa, for the third year in a row. The country is closely followed by Mauritius, South Africa, Botswana and Namibia.
Here is the full list of 20 most powerful passports in Africa and the countries their Nationals Do Not Require a Visa to visit free access to, according to the 2020 Henley Passport Index:
* Visa on arrival
** eTA (An Electronic Travel Authority), ETA provides authorisation to travel to and enter a country and it is electronically linked to your passport.
1. Seychelles
Global Rank: 29
Visa Free Access: 151
Seychelles holds the title for the most powerful passport in Africa, for the third year in a row.
Countries Where Seychelles Nationals Do Not Require a Visa to visit
Asia
Bangladesh, Cambodia *, China, Hong Kong (SAR China), Indonesia, Laos *, Macao (SAR China), Malaysia, Maldives *, Nepal *, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste *
Europe
Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vatican City
Africa
Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cape Verde Islands *, Comores Islands *, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Egypt *, Eswatini (Swaziland), Ethiopia *, Gambia, Ghana *, Guinea-Bissau *, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar *, Malawi, Mauritania *, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique *, Namibia, Nigeria, Reunion, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone *, Somalia *, South Africa, St. Helena *, Tanzania, Togo *, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Oceania, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands *, Micronesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand **, Niue, Palau Islands *, Samoa *, Tonga *, Tuvalu *, Vanuatu
Caribbean
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, French West Indies, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, st. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands
Americas
Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia *, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Nicaragua *, Panama, Uruguay
Middle East
Georgia, Iran *, Jordan *, Qatar, Turkey, United Arab Emirates
2. Mauritius
Global Rank: 32
Visa Free Access: 146
Mauritius holds the title for the second most powerful passport in Africa
Visa free countries for Mauritius Passport, the second most powerful passport in Africa
Asia
Cambodia *, China, Hong Kong (SAR China), Indonesia, Japan, Laos *, Macao (SAR China), Malaysia, Maldives *, Nepal *, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka **, Thailand, Timor-Lester.
Europe
Albania, Andorra, Austria Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vatican City.
Africa
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cape Verde Islands *, Comores Islands *, Congo (Dem. Rep.) *, Eswatini (Swaziland), Ethiopia *, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau *, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar *, Malawi, Mauritania *, Mayotte, Mozambique, Namibia, Réunion, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles *, Sierra Leone *, Somalia *, South Africa, St. Helena *, Tanzania, Togo *, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Oceania
Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands *, Micronesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand **, Niue, Palau Islands *, Samoa *, Tuvalu *, Vanuatu
Caribbean
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bonaire; St. Eustatius and Saba, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, French West Indies, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands
Americas
Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia *, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Nicaragua *, Panama
Middle East
Georgia, Iran *, Israel, Jordan *, Palestinian Territory, Qatar *, United Arab Emirates *
3. South Africa
Global Rank: 56
Visa Free Access: 100
South Africa holds the title for the third most powerful passport in Africa.
Visa free countries for South Africa Passport, the third most powerful passport in Africa
Asia
Cambodia *, Hong Kong (SAR China), Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan *, Laos *, Macao (SAR China), Malaysia, Maldives *, Nepal *, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka **, Tajikistan *, Thailand, Timor-Leste *, Europe, Ireland, Kosovo, Russian Federation
Africa
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cape Verde Islands *, Comores Islands *, Eswatini (Swaziland), Ethiopia *, Gabon, Ghana *
Guinea-Bissau *, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar *, Malawi, Mauritania *, Mauritius, Mozambique Namibia, Réunion, Rwanda *, Senegal, Seychelles *, Sierra Leone *, Somalia *, St. Helena *, Tanzania, Togo *, Tunisia, Uganda *, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Oceania
Cook Islands, Fiji, Marshall Islands *, Micronesia, Niue, Palau Islands *, Samoa *, Tuvalu *, Vanuatu
Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands
Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands
Americas
Argentina, Belize, Bolivia *, Brazil
Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Falkland Islands, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru Uruguay
Venezuela
Middle East
Armenia *, Georgia, Iran *, Israel, Jordan *
Palestinian Territory, Qatar
4. Botswana
Global Rank: 62
Visa Free Access: 84
Botswana holds the title for the most powerful passport in Africa
Countries Where Botswana Nationals Do Not Require a Visa to visit
Asia
Bangladesh, Cambodia *, Hong Kong (SAR China), Indonesia, Laos *, Macao (SAR China) *, Malaysia, Maldives *, Nepal *, Pakistan **, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka **, Timor-Leste *, Europe, Gibraltar, Ireland, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Russian Federation, United Kingdom
Africa
Angola, Benin, Cape Verde Islands *, Comores Islands *, Eswatini (Swaziland), Gambia, Ghana *, Guinea-Bissau *, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar *, Malawi, Mauritania *, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda *, Senegal, Seychelles *, Sierra Leone *, Somalia *, South Africa, South Sudan *, St. Helena *, Tanzania, Togo *, Uganda *, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Oceania
Cook Islands, Fiji, Micronesia, Niue, Palau Islands *, Samoa *, Tuvalu *, Vanuatu
Caribbean
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands
Americas
Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia *, Ecuador, Guyana, Panama
Middle East
Georgia, Iran *, Israel, Palestinian Territory
5. Namibia
Global Rank: 67
Visa Free Access: 76
Namibia holds the title for the fifth most powerful passport in Africa.
Visa free countries for Namibia Passport
Asia
Bangladesh *, Cambodia *, Hong Kong (SAR China), Indonesia, Laos *, Macao (SAR China), Malaysia, Maldives *, Nepal *, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka **,, Timor-Leste *
Europe
Gibraltar, Kosovo, United Kingdom
Africa
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cape Verde Islands *, Comores Islands *, Eswatini (Swaziland), Ethiopia *, Gambia, Ghana *, Guinea-Bissau *, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar *, Malawi, Mauritania *, Mauritius, Mozambique *, Rwanda *, Senegal, Seychelles * Sierra Leone *, Somalia *, South Africa, St. Helena *, Tanzania, Togo *, Tunisia, Uganda *, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Oceania
Cook Islands, Micronesia, Niue, Palau Islands *, Samoa *, Tuvalu *, Vanuatu
Caribbean
Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica Montserrat, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago
Americas
Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia *, Brazil, Ecuador, Nicaragua *, Panama
Middle East
Iran
6. Lesotho
Global Rank: 69
Visa Free Access: 74
Visa free countries for Lesotho Passport
Asia
Bangladesh, Cambodia *, Hong Kong (SAR China), Indonesia, Japan, Macao (SAR China) *, Malaysia, Maldives *, Nepal *, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka **, Timor-Leste *
Europe
Ireland, Kosovo
Africa
Benin, Botswana, Cape Verde Islands *
Comores Islands *, Eswatini (Swaziland), Gambia, Ghana *, Guinea-Bissau *, Kenya, Madagascar *, Malawi, Mauritania *
Mauritius, Mozambique *, Namibia, Rwanda *, Senegal, Seychelles *, Sierra Leone *, Somalia *, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo *, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Oceania
Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Micronesia, Niue, Palau Islands *, Samoa *, Tuvalu *, Vanuatu
Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands
Americas
Belize, Bolivia *, Ecuador, Nicaragua *
Middle East
Iran *, Israel, Jordan *, Palestinian Territory
7. Eswatini (Swaziland)
Global Rank: 70
Visa Free Access: 73
Visa free countries for Eswatini’s Passport
Asia
Bangladesh *, Cambodia *, Hong Kong (SAR China), Indonesia, Macao (SAR China) *, Malaysia, Maldives *, Philippines, Singapore
South Korea, Sri Lanka **, Timor-Leste *
Europe
Ireland, Kosovo
Africa
Benin, Botswana, Cape Verde Islands *, Comores Islands *, Ethiopia *, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau *, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar *, Malawi, Mauritania *, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda *, Senegal, Seychelles *, Sierra Leone *, Somalia *, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo *, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Oceania
Cook Islands, Fiji, Micronesia, Niue, Palau Islands *, Samoa *, Tuvalu *, Vanuatu
Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago
Americas
Belize, Bolivia *, Ecuador, Guyana, Nicaragua *
Middle East
Iran *, Israel, Jordan *, Kuwait *, Palestinian Territory
8. Malawi
Global Rank: 71
Visa Free Access: 72
Visa free countries for Malawi Passport
Asia
Bangladesh, Cambodia *, Hong Kong (SAR China), Indonesia, Laos *, Macao (SAR China) *, Malaysia, Maldives *, Nepal *, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka **, Timor-Leste *
Europe
Kosovo
Africa
Benin, Botswana, Cape Verde Islands *, Comores Islands *, Eswatini (Swaziland), Ethiopia *, Gambia, Ghana *, Guinea-Bissau *, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar *, Mauritania *, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda *, Senegal, Seychelles *, Sierra Leone *, Somalia *, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo *, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Oceania
Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Micronesia, Niue
Palau Islands *, Samoa *, Tuvalu *, Vanuatu
Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica
Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago
Americas
Belize, Bolivia *, Ecuador, Nicaragua *
Middle East
Iran *, Israel, Jordan *, Palestinian Territory
9. Kenya
Global Rank: 72
Visa Free Access: 71 countries
Visa free countries for Kenya Passport
Asia
Cambodia *, Hong Kong (SAR China), Indonesia, Laos * Macao (SAR China) *, Malaysia, Maldives *, Nepal *, Philippines, Singapore, Timor-Leste *
Africa
Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso *, Burundi, Cape Verde Islands *, Comores Islands *, Congo (Dem. Rep.) *, Eswatini (Swaziland)
Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau *, Lesotho, Madagascar *, Malawi, Mali *, Mauritania *, Mauritius, Mozambique *, Namibia
Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles *, Sierra Leone *, Somalia *, South Sudan *, Sudan *, Tanzania, Togo *, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Oceania
Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Micronesia, Niue, Palau Islands *, Samoa *, Tuvalu *, Vanuatu
Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia *, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago
Americas
Bolivia *, Panama
Middle East
Iran *, Jordan
10. Tanzania
Global Rank: 73
Visa Free Access: 70 countries
Countries Where Seychelles Nationals Do Not Require a Visa to visit
Asia
Bangladesh, Cambodia *, Hong Kong (SAR China), Indonesia, Laos *, Macao (SAR China), Malaysia, Maldives *, Nepal *, Pakistan **, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka **, Timor-Leste *
Africa
Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cape Verde Islands *, Comores Islands *, Congo (Dem. Rep.) *, Eswatini (Swaziland), Gambia, Ghana *, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau *, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar *, Malawi, Mauritania *, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal *, Seychelles *, Sierra Leone *, Somalia *, South Africa
South Sudan *, Togo *, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Oceania
Cook Islands, Fiji, Micronesia, Niue, Palau Islands *, Samoa *, Tuvalu *, Vanuatu
Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands
Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica
Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Americas
Belize, Bolivia *, Ecuador, Nicaragua *
Middle East
Iran
Other Countries
| Rank | Country | Visa free Access |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Tunisia | 69 |
| 12 | Gambia | 68 |
| 13 | Uganda | 66 |
| 14 | Cape Verde | 66 |
| 15 | Ghana | 65 |
| 16 | Zimbabwe | 64 |
| 17 | Sierra Leone | 63 |
| 18 | Morocco | 63 |
| 19 | Benin | 62 |
| 20 | Sao Tome and Principle | 61 |
Meanwhile, Nigeria is ranked as one of the weakest travel documents in Africa. With access to just 46 countries
Methodology
The Henley Passport Index is the original ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. The ranking is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which maintains the world’s largest and most accurate database of travel information, and enhanced by ongoing research by the Henley & Partners Research Department.
