Global Passport Index Highlights Southern African Nations
Henley and Partners have released its 2026 passport index, which ranks Namibia fifth in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and 62nd globally. This ranking reflects the level of visa-free access that Namibian passport holders can enjoy when traveling to various destinations around the world.
The Henley passport index is a comprehensive tool that compares the visa-free access of 199 different passports to 227 destinations. It relies on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association, ensuring accuracy and reliability in its rankings.
In the SADC region, Seychelles leads the pack, holding the first position globally at 24th. The island nation continues to be the strongest passport in Africa, offering visa-free access to 154 countries. Mauritius follows closely behind, securing the 27th position with access to 147 countries.
South Africa holds the third position within the SADC region and ranks 48th globally, with free access to 101 countries. Botswana comes next at 59th place, providing access to 62 countries. Namibia is ranked 62nd with access to 76 countries, while Lesotho and eSwatini share the 63rd and 65th positions, respectively, both offering access to 74 countries.
Further down the list, Malawi is placed 66th with access to 71 countries, followed by Tanzania at 69th with access to 68 countries. Zambia ranks 72nd with access to 65 countries, and Zimbabwe is at 74th with access to 62 countries. Mozambique and Madagascar are positioned at 76th and 78th, respectively, with access to 60 and 57 countries.
Angola ranks 86th with access to 49 countries, while the Democratic Republic of Congo is the last in the list at 90th, with access to only 43 countries.
On the global scale, Singapore remains at the top, retaining its position with access to 192 countries out of a possible 199. Japan and South Korea follow closely behind, sharing the second position with access to 188 countries. Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland all tie for third place, each offering visa-free access to 186 countries.
Austria, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Ireland, Italy, and Norway are ranked fourth, with access to 185 countries. Hungary, Portugal, Slovakia, and the United Arab Emirates are placed fifth, with visa-free access to 184 countries.
