The Nigerian passport has ranked 89th place out of 199 in the 2026 Henley Passport Index.
The index, which is updated every year, is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) alongside expert analysis of recent changes in global passport strength.
In July last year, Nigeria’s passport climbed to 88th place — its strongest performance in five years — before slipping to 94th position toward the end of the year.
Henley & Partners, the firm behind the ranking, relies on IATA’s exclusive data as the foundation for the index.
The latest edition of the ranking was released in January.
Nigeria occupies the 89th position jointly with Myanmar, with both countries recording a visa-free score of 44.
The index explains that the visa-free score represents the number of destinations passport holders can access without a visa, including countries that allow visas on arrival, visitor permits, or electronic travel authorities (ETA).
Within Africa, the Nigerian passport ranked above only the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, Libya, and Eritrea, maintaining its status as the seventh least attractive passport on the continent.
Seychelles remained Africa’s strongest passport, followed by Mauritius and South Africa.
Globally, Singapore retained its position as the most powerful passport, offering access to 192 destinations, while Afghanistan remained at the bottom of the ranking with access to just 24 countries.’