- According to Henley Passport Index’s updated rankings, there is a “growing divide in mobility — and the resulting access to opportunities — between citizens in the wealthy global north and those in the lower-income global south”
The world’s most travel-friendly passports for 2022 have now been revealed with Nigeria at the 98th position.
And, once again, Japan and Singapore topped the list in the annual Henley & Partners’ Henley Passport Index of 199 countries. Also on travel
The index ranks all passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. “It is updated in real time throughout the year, as and when visa policy changes come into effect,” reads the website.
Based on data provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), holders of the passports at the top — Japan and Singapore — are able to travel visa-free to 192 destinations.
This means, in the absence of any Covid restrictions, the passport holders of these two countries can travel to 166 more countries than Afghanistan, which is ranked at the bottom on 111th position.
South Korea is tied with Germany in second place (with a score of 190) and Finland, Italy, Luxembourg and Spain are on the third spot (with a score of 189).
While EU countries dominate the top of the list as usual, with France, Netherlands and Sweden climbing one spot to join Austria and Denmark in fourth place (with a score of 188), India has improved its position to rank 83, seven position up from last year’s 90th position. This now allows it to access 60 countries without prior visa.
Ireland and Portugal are in fifth place (with a score of 187).
Top on the rank for African nations is South Africa with Number 51.
Ranked 98, Nigeria falls behind Africa nations Botswana – 60, Namibia – 66, Lesotho – 67, Malawi – 70, Kenya – 71, Tanzania – 71, Tunisia & Zambia – 72, Gambia – 75, Uganda – 76, Cape Verde Islands – 77, Morocco – 79, Sierra Leone – 80, Mozambique, 81, Benin Republic – 82, Rwanda – 82, Sao Tome & Principe – 83, Maurutania – 84, Burkina Faso -85, Gabon – 86.
Other nations ahead of Nigeria in the ranking include Cote d’Ivoire – 87, Senegal – 87, Equatorial Guinea – 88, Madagascar – 88, Guinea – 89, Mali – 89, Togo – 89, Chad – 90, Niger Republic – 90, Algeria – 91, Central African Republic – 91, Egypt – 91, Guinea-Bissau – 91, They still include Burundi – 92, Angola – 93, Cameroon – 93, Liberia – 94, Congo (Rep.) – 95, Djibouti – 96, Ethiopia – 98, Nigeria – 98 and South Sudan – 99.
According to the updated rankings, there is a “growing divide in mobility — and the resulting access to opportunities — between citizens in the wealthy global north and those in the lower-income global south”.
“Japanese, Swedish, and US passport holders can visit more than 180 destinations without a visa, whereas citizens of Angola, Cameroon, and Laos can visit only about 50,” it reads.
The ‘best passports’ to hold in 2022 are:
1. Japan, Singapore (192 destinations)
2. Germany, South Korea (190)
3. Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain (189)
4. Austria, Denmark, France, Netherlands, Sweden (188)
5. Ireland, Portugal (187)
6. Belgium, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States (186)
7. Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Greece, Malta (185)
8. Poland, Hungary (183)
9. Lithuania, Slovakia (182)
10. Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia (181)
The ‘worst passports’ to hold are
Several countries around the world have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to fewer than 40 countries. These include:
104. North Korea (39 destinations)
105. Nepal and Palestinian territories (37)
106. Somalia (34)
107. Yemen (33)
108. Pakistan (31)
109. Syria (29)
110. Iraq (28)
111. Afghanistan (26)