Africa's 20 most powerful passports by the number of visa-free countries citizens can visit in 2021

Seychelles, Mauritius, and South Africa lead other African countries in the number of visa-free countries their citizens can visit globally. Here are the most powerful passports in Africa by the number of visa-free countries citizens can visit in 2021.

Source:
Passport Index
Period:
2021
HTML code to embed chart

Click to copy HTML embed code

Tags
Related Insights
The UK has received over one million cumulative asylum applications worldwide since 2001
The cumulative number of asylum applications to the UK has exceeded one million, with Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Albania being major contributors. African countries such as Eritrea, Somalia, Zimbabwe, the DR Congo, and Nigeria have also been in the top ten. These are the top ten nationalities in the past 23 years.
The UK has approved 6.4 million study visas to foreign nationals between 2005 and 2023
Since 2005, nationals from China, India, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Pakistan, and Nigeria have ranked among the top three recipients of UK study visas. China led the list from 2010 to 2020. In 19 years, over 1.46 million Chinese nationals (22.9% of the total) received study visas. India followed with 926.9k and Nigeria — which first entered the top three in 2020 — with 436.9k.
Nearly 11 in 50 health and care work visas issued by the UK in 2023 went to Nigerians
In 2023, the UK issued nearly 350k skilled health and care visas, representing 57% of the total work visas (616k) issued, with Indian and Nigerian nationals receiving a combined 50% of the visas issued. Nigeria received 82.8k, approximately 13% of the total work visas issued.
UK work visa applications from Nigeria increased by 1,581% between 2019 and 2023
The number of study and work visa applications from Nigeria to the UK has significantly increased, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic. Although study visa applications dropped by 24% in 2023, they peaked at 124.8k in 2022. Work visa applications reached a high of 92.7k in 2023, increasing three consecutive years from 2021.
Nigeria ranks second in UK work visa applications for 2023, behind India
In 2023, Nigeria emerged as the second-largest source of UK work visa applications, with 92.7k applications, trailing only India (171.8k). This places Nigeria ahead of other countries like the Philippines (29.5k), Ghana (36.2k), Pakistan (48.4k), and Zimbabwe (50.3k). Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Ghana were the top African countries seeking work in the UK in 2023.
16.3% of African-born immigrants living in the US in 2022 were Nigerians
In 2022, the US hosted a diverse African immigrant community, totaling over 2.75 million. ​​ ​Nigerians make up the largest group at 448,405 (16.3%), followed by Ethiopians (10.6%), Egyptians (8.3%), and Ghanaians (7.8%).
POPULAR TOPICS
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
Get periodic updates about the African startup space, access to our reports, among others.
Subscribe Here
Subscription Form
A product of Techpoint Africa. All rights reserved