The Seychellois passport remains Africa's most powerful passport in 2023

Seychelles has the most powerful passport in Africa in 2023, with visa-free access to 155 countries and territories, followed by Mauritius (148). Nigerian passport holders have visa-free access to 46 countries, one of the lowest in Africa. Africa's most powerful passports in 2023 by the number of travel destinations passport holders can travel to visa-free:

Seychelles (155), Mauritius (148), South Africa (106), Botswana (89), Namibia (81), Lesotho (79), Eswatini (77), Kenya (76), Malawi (75), Tanzania (73).

Africa's least powerful passports in 2023 by the number of travel destinations passport holders can travel to visa-free:
Liberia (51), Djibouti (49), Ethiopia (47), Nigeria (46), South Sudan (46), DR Congo (45), Eritrea (44), Sudan (44), Libya (41), Somalia (35).

Source:

Henley & Partners

Period:

2023
HTML code to embed chart
Want a bespoke report?
Reach out
Tags
Related Insights

Canada’s study permit approvals dropped by 31% in 2024, with Nigeria, India, and the Philippines experiencing significant reductions
  • Canada announced a reduction in international student approvals in 2024, citing housing and resource pressures.
  • Global approvals dropped nearly 31% from 681.5k in 2023.
  • Nigerian approvals dropped 36%, ranking among the highest declines. India (-39.7%) and Nepal (-48.8%) were also major declines.
  • Canada plans to issue 437,000 study permits in 2025, 10% lower than 2024’s cap.
  • The UK, US, and local universities may see more Nigerian applicants.

Eight African countries allow visa-free entry to travellers from 198 locations, demonstrating a perfect level of openness
  • 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.

Nigeria has maintained the top spot for US international students from Africa since the 2007/08 academic year
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.

Ghana sees a 45% increase in the number of its students in the US — Africa's highest growth rate
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 increases at an average of 4.8% per 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.

Nearly one-quarter of US foreign-born population was born in Mexico
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.

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