(Ecofin Agency) - The Seychelles passport is the most powerful in Africa for international travel this year, according to the 2025 ranking of the world’s most powerful passports published by Henley & Partners, a British consultancy specializing in citizenship and residence.

This passport from the Indian Ocean island nation ranks 25th globally and allows visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 156 destinations. Seychelles has moved up one spot compared to 2024 in the “Henley Passport Index 2025,” which evaluates 199 passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without requiring a prior visa.

The ranking also considers cases where passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival, a visitor’s permit, or an electronic travel authorization (ETA) upon entry. The data used for the index includes information from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which represents more than 250 airlines worldwide.

Mauritius, ranked 29th globally, holds the second position in Africa. Its passport allows access to 151 destinations. South Africa ranks third in Africa, moving up five places to 48th globally, with access to 106 destinations.

The rest of Africa’s top ten includes Botswana (57th, 88 destinations), Namibia (62nd, 81 destinations), Lesotho (64th, 79 destinations), Eswatini (65th, 77 destinations), Malawi (67th, 75 destinations), Kenya (68th, 74 destinations), and Morocco (69th, 73 destinations).

Three African countries are in the global top 50, up from two in 2024, thanks to South Africa’s strong progress.

At the bottom of the African rankings are South Sudan (96th globally), Sudan (97th), Eritrea (98th), Libya (100th), and Somalia (102nd).

Globally, the Singaporean passport ranks first, offering visa-free access to 195 destinations. It is followed by Japan, Finland, France, and Germany.

2025 Rankings of Africa’s Most Powerful Passports (Henley & Partners):

1. Seychelles (25th globally, 156 destinations)
2. Mauritius (29th, 151 destinations)
3. South Africa (48th, 106 destinations)
4. Botswana (57th, 88 destinations)
5. Namibia (62nd, 81 destinations)
6. Lesotho (64th, 79 destinations)
7. Eswatini (65th, 77 destinations)
8. Malawi (67th, 75 destinations)
9. Kenya (68th, 74 destinations)
10. Morocco (69th, 73 destinations)
11. Tanzania (69th, 73 destinations)
12. Gambia (71st, 71 destinations)
13. Uganda (72nd, 70 destinations)
14. Zambia (72nd, 70 destinations)
15. Tunisia (73rd, 69 destinations)
16. Benin (74th, 68 destinations)
17. Cape Verde (74th, 68 destinations)
18. Ghana (74th, 68 destinations)
19. Rwanda (76th, 66 destinations)
20. Sierra Leone (76th, 66 destinations)
21. Mozambique (77th, 65 destinations)
22. Zimbabwe (77th, 65 destinations)
23. São Tomé and Príncipe (79th, 63 destinations)
24. Togo (81st, 61 destinations)
25. Burkina Faso (82nd, 60 destinations)
26. Gabon (82nd, 60 destinations)
27. Madagascar (82nd, 60 destinations)
28. Côte d’Ivoire (83rd, 59 destinations)
29. Guinea (83rd, 59 destinations)
30. Mauritania (84th, 58 destinations)
31. Senegal (84th, 58 destinations)
32. Equatorial Guinea (85th, 57 destinations)
33. Niger (85th, 57 destinations)
34. Algeria (86th, 56 destinations)
35. Guinea-Bissau (87th, 55 destinations)
36. Mali (87th, 55 destinations)
37. Comoros (88th, 54 destinations)
38. Central African Republic (89th, 53 destinations)
39. Chad (89th, 53 destinations)
40. Egypt (90th, 52 destinations)
41. Liberia (90th, 52 destinations)
42. Angola (91st, 51 destinations)
43. Burundi (92nd, 50 destinations)
44. Cameroon (92nd, 50 destinations)
45. Republic of Congo (92nd, 50 destinations)
46. Djibouti (93rd, 49 destinations)
47. DR Congo (94th, 46 destinations)
48. Ethiopia (94th, 46 destinations)
49. Nigeria (94th, 46 destinations)
50. South Sudan (96th, 44 destinations)
51. Sudan (97th, 43 destinations)
52. Eritrea (98th, 42 destinations)
53. Libya (100th, 40 destinations)
54. Somalia (102nd, 35 destinations)