Eight African countries allow visa-free entry to travellers from 198 locations, demonstrating a perfect level of openness
Key takeaways:
Eight African countries, including Burundi, Cape Verde, and Kenya, lead the way with a perfect score of 198, setting the standard for unrestricted accessibility and visa-free entry.
Nations with high scores will likely attract increased tourism, business opportunities, and cultural exchange, positioning themselves as hubs for international engagement.
Nigeria has a score of 49 out of 198, showing a relatively low openness.
Africa’s openness has reached remarkable levels, with eight countries achieving a perfect score of 198 on the Henley Openness Index. These nations have set a benchmark for accessibility by allowing entry to all nationalities without prior visas.
Since the 2007/08 academic year, Nigeria has consistently held the top spot for the number of African international students in the US. Before this, Kenya and Egypt also led in certain periods.
This trend highlights the evolving landscape of African students pursuing education in the US over the decades.
Nigeria remains the leading African country of origin for students in the US, with over 20,000 enrolled this year.
Ghana, however, recorded the continent's fastest growth rate at 45%. This increase of over 2,900 students brought Ghana’s total to nearly 9,400, making it the second-largest source of African students in the US.
Nigeria also saw a 13.5% rise, adding more than 2,380 students year-over-year.
Overall, the number of students from African countries in the US grew by nearly 12% in the 2023/24 academic year.
The population of Nigerian-born immigrants in the US has more than doubled in nearly two decades, growing at an average rate of 4.8% per year.
By 2023, the number reached 476k, up from just under 200k in 2006 — a 141% growth.
Nigeria has been leading Africa in immigrant numbers in the US, ranking 22nd globally.
Rising immigrant numbers could strengthen remittance flows back to Nigeria.
In 2023, the US immigrant (foreign-born) population reached an estimated 47.83 million, a 3.6% increase from 46.18 million in 2022, with Mexico leading as the top country of birth for immigrants, contributing nearly 23% of the total.
India, China, and the Philippines follow, with significant communities from El Salvador, Cuba, and Guatemala.
Airfares in Nigeria have surged by 26% just one month after the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency proposed an 800% increase in navigational charges — the largest spike in 32 months.
From an average of ₦38,200 in January 2022 to ₦123,700 in August 2024, costs have more than tripled.
Further price hikes could raise concerns about air travel affordability nationwide.