Namibian passport 5th best in Africa
Namibia has maintained its place as having one of the most powerful passports in Africa, according to newly released research by the Henley Passport Index.
Namibia's passport was once again ranked as the fifth most powerful in Africa and was placed 67th globally.
The Henley Passport Index ranks countries on the basis of the number of places where the citizens can travel without a visa. It is based on information gathered throughout the year by the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) and factors in 191 countries' passports. The annual report is a ranking of the most powerful passports across the world.
The other top-ranked African countries were Seychelles, ranked 29th globally; Mauritius, ranked 32nd globally; South Africa, ranked 56th globally; and Botswana, ranked 62nd globally.
According to the index a Namibian passport allows access to 76 countries, in comparison to Seychelles which offers access to 100 countries.
Namibia received the same ranking on the index the previous year.
The statistics show an overall decline in the value of African passports over the past ten years. The report blames this decline on political instability and conflict on the continent.
Nigeria was ranked as having one of the weakest travel documents. Ten years ago, it had the 76th most powerful passport in the world, but now it has dropped to 95th position.
For the third consecutive year, Japan has secured the top spot on the global index with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 191. Singapore holds onto its second-place position with a score of 190, while South Korea drops down a rank to third place alongside Germany, giving their passport holders visa-free/visa-on-arrival access to 189 destinations worldwide.
Elsewhere in the top 10, Finland and Italy share fourth place, with a score of 188, while Denmark, Luxembourg, and Spain together hold fifth place, with a score of 187.
Syria (105), Iraq (106) and Afghanistan (107) are the poorest performers on the index with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of less than 30.
ELLANIE SMIT
Namibia's passport was once again ranked as the fifth most powerful in Africa and was placed 67th globally.
The Henley Passport Index ranks countries on the basis of the number of places where the citizens can travel without a visa. It is based on information gathered throughout the year by the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) and factors in 191 countries' passports. The annual report is a ranking of the most powerful passports across the world.
The other top-ranked African countries were Seychelles, ranked 29th globally; Mauritius, ranked 32nd globally; South Africa, ranked 56th globally; and Botswana, ranked 62nd globally.
According to the index a Namibian passport allows access to 76 countries, in comparison to Seychelles which offers access to 100 countries.
Namibia received the same ranking on the index the previous year.
The statistics show an overall decline in the value of African passports over the past ten years. The report blames this decline on political instability and conflict on the continent.
Nigeria was ranked as having one of the weakest travel documents. Ten years ago, it had the 76th most powerful passport in the world, but now it has dropped to 95th position.
For the third consecutive year, Japan has secured the top spot on the global index with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of 191. Singapore holds onto its second-place position with a score of 190, while South Korea drops down a rank to third place alongside Germany, giving their passport holders visa-free/visa-on-arrival access to 189 destinations worldwide.
Elsewhere in the top 10, Finland and Italy share fourth place, with a score of 188, while Denmark, Luxembourg, and Spain together hold fifth place, with a score of 187.
Syria (105), Iraq (106) and Afghanistan (107) are the poorest performers on the index with a visa-free/visa-on-arrival score of less than 30.
ELLANIE SMIT
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