The latest Henley Passport Index 2025 Global Ranking has revealed that Seychelles continues to hold the title of Africa’s most powerful passport, granting visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 156 destinations worldwide.
According to the report, Mauritius follows closely with 149 destinations, maintaining its strong global standing as one of Africa’s most travel-friendly passports. South Africa ranks third on the continent, offering access to 103 countries, reflecting its continued influence in global mobility.
Other African countries making the top 10 include Botswana (85 destinations), Namibia (79), Lesotho (76), and Eswatini (74). Malawi and Morocco share the eighth position with access to 73 destinations, while Kenya and The Gambia round out the list, tied at 71 destinations each.
The Henley Passport Index, based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), ranks the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa.
The Henley Passport Index is the original and most authoritative ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. The index includes 199 passports and 227 travel destinations, giving users the most extensive and reliable information about their global access and mobility.
With historical data spanning 20 years and regularly updated expert analysis on the latest shifts in passport power, the index is an invaluable resource for global citizens and the standard reference tool for government policy in this field.
The 2025 ranking reflects a continued widening gap between Africa’s top-tier passports and global leaders such as Japan, Singapore, and Germany, which offer access to over 190 destinations.
