In 2024, international passengers departing from some African countries paid steep air travel taxes, government or airport-imposed fees added to ticket prices for outbound international flights. According to the data, Gabon led the continent with a $297.70 tax, followed closely by Sierra Leone ($294) and Nigeria ($180). These three countries made international departures some of the most expensive in Africa. The rest of the top 10 most expensive countries, including Djibouti, Niger, and Ghana, all exceeded $100 in departure taxes.
On the flip side, a different policy approach was evident in several other countries. Libya’s tax was just $1.30, the lowest on the list, while Malawi, Lesotho, Algeria, and Botswana all kept their exit fees under $20. The disparity is striking: a traveller flying out of Gabon paid more than 228 times what a passenger did in Libya.
