The latest global passport index has ranked Ghana 84 out of 199 countries with the most powerful international passports in the world.
The fourth quarter (Q4) 2021 Global Passport Index compiled by Henley and Partners showed that possessing a Ghanaian passport guarantees visa-free access to 64 countries across the globe. This means the status of the country’s passport remained unchanged between the third (Q3) and fourth quarters of the year.
In Q3 2021, Ghana’s passport ranked 84th alongside Armenia, Cuba, and Morocco. However, only the Ghanaian and Armenian passports were able to maintain this position as Morocco and Cuba dropped to the 85th position in Q4. Together with Sierra Leone, a Moroccan passport now guarantees visa-free access to 63 countries instated of 64 in the previous rankings.
Globally, the passports of Japan and Singapore were ranked the most powerful in the world. A Japanese and a Singaporean passport allow a holder to enter 192 countries around the world without the need for visa payment. The recent ranking means the Japanese passport has maintained its position as the most powerful passport in the second half of the year.
African context
The Henley Passport Index for the last quarter of 2021 ranked Seychelles’ passport as the number one in Africa and 29th in the world. Seychelles’ passport holders have access to 152 countries without visa payment. Even though Seychelles dropped from the 28th position in the previous ranking, the number of countries it can access remained unchanged in Q4 2021.
Botswana’s passport currently ranked 2nd in Africa and 67th globally and has access to 86 countries worldwide. Namibia’s passport is 3rd in Africa and 73rd in the world with access to travel to 78 countries. Lesotho ranked fourth in Africa and rated 74th globally with access to 77 countries without paying for visa.
Malawi now occupies the 76th position in the global ranking with a holder of a Malawian passport assured of visa-free access to 73 countries. Kenya and Tanzania are however, ranked 77th in the world. Their passports grant holders access to 72 countries globally without the requirement of paying for a visa.
Likewise, Tunisia and Zambia ranked 78th, a slot behind Tanzania, with access to 71 countries. The Gambian passport is now number 80 in the world with access to 68 countries.
Other African countries
Uganda ranked number 81 with its passport allowing a holder the privilege to enter into 67 territories visa-free while Cape Verde, ranked 82nd, guarantees holders of its passport to 66 countries without a visa.
Zimbabwe also ranked 83rd with access to 65 countries globally. The Henley Passport Index for Q4 2021 ranked Nigeria 103 out of the 199 countries with the most powerful international passports in the world. Nigeria is sharing the 103rd position with Ethiopia in the Q4 2021 Henley Passport Index. A Nigerian passport, according to the report, only guarantees visa-free access to 45 countries of the world.
The Henley Passport Index is the original, authoritative ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. The index is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The index includes 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations since 2006. Updated quarterly, the Henley Passport Index is considered the standard reference tool for global citizens and sovereign states when assessing where a passport ranks on the global mobility spectrum.
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