Every year the Henley Passport Index Collects data from the International Air Transport Association
in order to rank passport holders based on
the number of countries they can travel to without a visa.
The more countries one can travel to with a particular country's passport the stronger
and more influential that country’s passport is. The fewer countries it can travel to means
the passport is weak. Several factors account to why the passport of a specific country is weak,
and we are going to cover them. The passports are ranked from the most powerful to the weakest.
Some countries’ rank in the Henley Passport Index has not changed, while others fluctuated.
In this video, we are going to be seeing the weakest and the most powerful passports in Africa.
But before we dive right in, be sure to leave a like on this video.
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Let’s start with the most powerful passport passports before the weakest passports.
Number 10: Tanzania.
Tanzania has the tenth most powerful passport in Africa. It is the largest country in East Africa
and the languages spoken in this region are the English Language and Swahili.
The Capital of Tanzania is Dar Es Salam and the currency used here is the Tanzanian Shilling.
This is one of the countries that has moved up the ranks of the Henley Passport Index. Last year
it did not feature among the top ten. Holders of the Tanzanian passport can travel to seventy-one
Countries Visa-Free. It is ranked seventy-fourth worldwide alongside Tunisia and Zambia.
Number 9: Kenya
With a population of over 53 million people, Kenya comes 9th on the list. Kenya just like Tanzania
has English and Swahili as official Languages. Its capital is Nairobi.
Holders of the Kenyan Passport have access to 72 countries visa-free worldwide.
The Kenyan passport ranks seventy-third in the world on the Henley Passport Index.
Number 8: Malawi
Malawi formerly known as Nyasaland is a former British colony, having a population of over 16
million people. Its Capital Is Lilongwe. Its official languages are English and Che-wa.
The Malawi passport gives its holders access to 73 countries
placing it seventy-second globally and eighth on the list in Africa.
Number 7: Eswatini
Eswatini was previously called Swaziland. It is a landlocked country in the southern part if Africa.
The official languages are the Swazi and English Languages. The Population of Eswatini is just
above a million. Holders of the Eswatini passport can have access to up to 74 countries visa-free.
This places it seventh on the henley passport index in Africa and seventy-first in the world.
Number 6: Lesotho
Lesotho Or The Kingdom of Lesotho is a country with a population of close to 2 million people.
This country is perculiar in the fact that it is found within another country.
It is an eclaved country within South Africa’s border. Its official languages are Sesotho
and English. Holders of Lesotho’s passport can have access to 76 countries visa free.
It has the sixth powerful passport in africa and sixty-ninth in the world.
Number 5: Namibia
Namibia has the fifth most poweful passport In Africa.
The Countries Official Language is English. Its official currencies are the namibian dollar and
the South African Rand. This country’s passport gives you access to 77 countries Visa Free.
it is ranked sixty-eighth in the world on the Henley passport Index.
Number 4: Botswana
Botswana is the fourth most powerful passport in the world. It is a landlocked country in the
southern part of Africa and 70% of this country is covered by desert, the kalahari desert.
Its Official languages are english and set-swana. It has an estimated population of about 2.3
million people. Holders of Botswana’s passport have access to 85 countries
without a visa. This places it sixty-second in the world on the Henley Passport Index.
Number 3: South Africa
South Africa is the 5th Most Populous Nation In Africa with about 58 million people.
South Africa has 3 capitals. Pretoria,
the executive capital, Cape town, the legislative capital and Bloemfontein,
the Judicial Capital. South Africans speak 11 different languages including English. Holders
of the south african passport can have access to up to a hundred and one countries without a visa.
This makes it the third most powerful passport in Africa and fifty-fourth in the world.
Number 2. Mauritius
Probably one of the most visited tourist destinations in africa,
Mauritius has the second most powerful passport in Africa. It is an island nation in the indian
ocean. The island has about 1.2 million people. The official languages of mauritius are English
and French. Owning a mauritius passport means you have access to 146 countries
in the world without Visa. This Places it thirty-first on the Global Passport Index.
Number 1: Seychelles
To the Country we have all been waiting for. The most powerful passport in Africa
goes to Seychelles. Over the past 5 years, it has stayed in this position.
Its official languages are English, French, and Seychellois creole. Seychelles is the number
one tourist destination in Africa. It also has the highest nominal per capita G.D.P in Africa.
Holders of the seychelles passport can travel to 151 countries visa-free. This
places it first in Africa and twenty-eighth in the world.
Those were the Most powerful passports in Africa.
Now let’s take a look at the weakest passports In Africa.
Number 10: Liberia and Cameroon
Liberia suffered a mobility score decline from previous years. This fall was as a result of
the COVID-19 pandemic. Before Liberians could travel to over 55 countries Visa Free. Now they
can only travel to just 49. For Cameroon, it has to do with the internal crisis in the country,
the anglophone crisis. Liberia and Cameroon can only access 49 countries visa free.
Number 9: Republic Of Congo
Congo had a drastic drop in its mobility score dropping from 52 to 44.
Mobility score refers to the number of countries a particular country's passport
can access visa free. A congolese passport can only access 48 countries visa free.
Number 8. Djibouti
Several countries see no benefit in making djibouti visa free to their country.
This is as a result of its low or poor political influence and a close to zero economic prowess.
This makes Djibouti’s passport weak and gives it access to only 48 countries visa free worldwide.
Number 7: Nigeria
The Nigerian Passport has suffered a terrible decline on the Henley passport index over the
last 10 years. This is as a result of increase if violence and instability causing a decrease
in its passport strength. However, they can be a solution to this. The government can implement
reciprocal visa waivers and build a healthy economic environment for foreign investors.
For now, the Nigerian passport can give its holders access to only 46 countries Visa free.
Number 6: Ethiopia Ethiopia’s passport has improved over the last
four years compared to what it was in the past decade. However, with the growing tensions in the
Tigray region, it is likely that countries will begin to shut their borders to Ethiopians again.
Nevertheless, an Ethiopian passport can access 44 countries worldwide.
Number 5: South Sudan As a breakout country,
establishing political influence on the African continent and the world can be
challenging. Creating more political ties with countries in their geopolitical zones
would be a great starting point. A South Sudanese passport can access just 43 countries worldwide.
Number 4- Eritrea and the Democratic Republic Of Congo
Congo suffered a huge decline in its passport power. This is due to suspicions of security
threats and violence. Eritrea is suffering a similar fate. Also, the ethnic tension in
neighboring Ethiopia is not making things any better. An Eritrean or Demo Republic of Congo
passport can only access 42 countries worldwide. Number 3- Sudan
The Sudanese passport has remained etched to the bottom of the list
due to the country’s civil war and political instability. Two rounds of north-south civil
war cost the lives of over 1.5 million people. Ironically, this leaves the country fighting
for a good spot at the bottom of the most powerful passports ranking. A Sudanese passport can access
40 countries worldwide. Number 2- Libya
Several countries try to control emigrants from Libya due to fear of terrorism.
Libya, over the years, has been a haven for several terrorist groups. Also, it
has become a thriving ground for human traffickers promising young Africans a better life in Europe.
Based on this reputation, several countries are reluctant to give them a visa-free pass. A Libyan
passport can access 38 countries worldwide. Number 1 Somalia
Somalia has the worst passport in Africa, and this is majorly due to high insecurity in the country.
Many countries like Canada don’t grant visas to this country.
The horn of Africa nation has one of the most deadly terrorist groups in the world.
A Somalian passport can access only 33 countries worldwide.
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