15 Countries with the Strongest Passports in Africa

This list of the top 15 countries with the strongest passports in Africa  is based on the Henley Passport Index (HPI) that provides an annual ranking of the world’s strongest passports. By the term ‘strongest Passports in Africa,’ we mean passports that enable the holder or grant him/her easy access into other countries without visas.

Before listing the Top 15 countries with the strongest passports in Africa, let’s mention the strongest passport in the World. According to the Henley Passport Index (2022), the Japanese passport is the strongest passport in the world.  With the Japanese passport, the holder can visit 192 countries out of the 199 countries in the world without a visa. Singapore, Germany, South Korea and Finland rank second, third, fourth and fifth with the ability to visit 192, 190, 190 and 189 countries respectively visa free.  But what conditions need to be met before considering the strength of a country’s passport?

Conditions for Passport Strength

According to onlinevisa.com, “the HPI ranks a passport highly if it allows the holder to visit many countries with any of the following entry criteria:

• Passport only
• Electronic travel authorization (ETA) / online visa waiver
• Visa on arrival

But these three criteria are largely based on how an individual country is perceived in the global community. One would not expect war-torn and terrorist countries to have enviable strengthened passports. Such ills and constraints weaken the passport of a country. Without further ado, these are the top 15 countries with the strongest passports in Africa:

Top 15 Countries with the Strongest Passports in Africa

1. Seychelles

The Republic of Seychelles ranks as the number one African country with the strongest passport and number 28 globally. With the Seychellois Creole passport, the holder has the freedom to visit 152 countries without a visa.  As of November, 2021, Seychelles was among the only 5 countries (Brunei, Dominica, Grenada, Mauritius)  in the world that does not require a visa to travel to China, Russia, Schengen Area and the United Kingdom.

2. Mauritius

The Republic of Mauritius has the second strongest passport in Africa. Mauritius is an Island nation that consists of French speaking Africans, that is, it is a Francophone country. It ranks as the 30th country with the strongest passport globally and with her passport, 146 countries can be visited visa-free.

3. South Africa

The South African passport ranks as the third strongest passport on the African continent. It comes in as number 51 globally and with the South African passport, 104 countries can be visited visa-free.

4. Botswana

Botswana’s passport is the 4th strongest African passport and ranks as number 60 globally. A holder of Botswana passport can visit 86 countries visa-free

5. Namibia

The Namibian passport is the fifth strongest passport in Africa and the 60th globally. With the Namibian passport, the holder can visit 86 countries visa free.

6. Lesotho

People from Lesotho are called Basotho and a person from Lesotho is called a Mosotho. Therefore, a Mosotho passport is the 6th strongest passport on the African continent and the 67th strongest passport in the world. With the Mosotho passport, the holder can visit 78 countries without visa hassle free.

7. Eswatini

Eswatini, officially known as the Kingdom of Eswatini and formally known as Swaziland is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Her passport ranks as the 7th strongest passport in Africa. Globally, the Liswati passport ranks 69th and can be used to travel to 74 countries Visa-free with no hassles.

8. Malawi

The republic of  Malawi is a landlocked country found in the South-Eastern part of Africa. Malawi is nicknamed the warm heart of Africa because of the friendliness of her people. No wonder why her passport ranks as the 8th strongest passport in Africa and the 70th globally. Holders of Malawi passports can conveniently visit 73 countries visa-free.

9. Kenya

Kenya ranks as the 9th when it comes to passport strength in Africa. Globally, the Kenyan passport is the 71st strongest passport and Kenyan citizens can visit 72 countries visa-free.

10. Tanzania

Tanzania is an East African country whose visa ranks as the 71st globally just as Kenya. The Tanzanian passport is the 10th strongest passport in Africa according to the Henley Passport Index (2022) and holders of this passport can visit 72 countries visa-free.

11. Tunisia

Tunisia is a part of the Maghreb region found in North Africa. The Tunisian passport ranks as the 11th strongest passport in Africa and the 72nd globally. Holders of the Tunisian passport can visit 71 countries without prior visa application.

12. Zambia

The Zambian passport is the 12th strongest passport in Africa. It ranks as 72 globally and holders of this passport can travel to 71 countries visa-free.

13. Gambia

The Gambian passport is the 13th strongest passport in Africa and 68th globally. Holders of the Gambian passport can visit 68 countries visa-free.

14. Uganda

At number 14 is the Ugandan passport. It ranks as 76th globally and its holders can visit 67 countries visa-free.

15. Cape Verde

Cape Verde has the 15th strongest passport in Africa and is ranked globally as 77 alongside the Philippines. Holders of the Cape Verdean  passport can visit 66 countries visa-free.