Kenya’s passport has dropped two positions in the Henley Passport Index 2025 to position 69 from position 67. The latest ranking allows Kenyan passport holders to travel visa-free or receive one on arrival to 71 countries.
The Henley Passport Index, compiled by London-based global citizenship and residency advisory firm Henley & Partners, ranks 199 passports based on the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. The index uses data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and is updated regularly to reflect changes in global mobility.
This year, Kenya shares the 69th position with Gambia, with both countries tying for 10th place among African nations.
Seychelles continues to lead the continent and is ranked 24th globally with visa-free travel to 156 countries. Mauritius comes next in Africa at 27 globally (149 countries), followed by South Africa ranking 48th with visa-free access to 103 countries.
Kenya’s passport has seen several shifts over recent years. In 2021, it fell to its lowest rank in two decades – 77th globally. It then rebounded slightly to 71st in 2022 but declined again to 73rd in 2023 before its current dip to 69th.
Other African nations outpacing Kenya this year include Botswana (59th globally), Namibia (63rd), Lesotho (65th), Eswatini (66th), and both Malawi and Morocco at 67th.
At the bottom of the African passport ranking is Somalia, with visa-free access to just 32 nations. Following closely behind it is Eritrea on 39, Sudan on 41, and finally South Sudan on 43.
At the global level, Singapore remains at the top with the strongest passport, giving access to 193 places without an advance visa. Japan and South Korea come second at 190 places.
The European states of Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Spain are tied with 189 countries for third place. Austria and Sweden and their neighboring countries are in the fourth position with access to 188 countries, and Greece, New Zealand, and Switzerland are in the fifth with 187 countries.
The UK is ranked sixth (186 countries), with Australia, Hungary, and others ranking joint seventh (185). Canada, Estonia, and the UAE rank eighth, with 184. Croatia, Latvia, Slovakia, and Slovenia rank ninth (183).
The United States, Iceland, and Lithuania complete the top ten with access to 182 destinations. The U.S., a former leader in 2014, finds itself with its lowest ranking since the index began its 20-year run.
