NEW data has shown that Zimbabwe’s passport grants its holders visa-free access to 63 destinations, placing it at position 80 in the 2025 Henley Passport Index.
The ranking highlights sharp disparities in travel freedom across Southern Africa, where island nations continue to outperform mainland countries.
The Henley Passport Index, which evaluates 199 passports based on access to 227 destinations, shows that Seychelles and Mauritius remain the region’s leaders.
Seychelles ranks highest in the region and Africa at position 26 globally, offering visa-free access to 155 destinations, while Mauritius follows at position 29 with 148 destinations.
In contrast, mainland passports continue to register lower mobility scores.
South Africa, the region’s largest economy, ranks 53rd with visa-free access to 102 destinations, while Botswana is positioned at 63rd with 83 destinations, Namibia 68th with 77, Lesotho 69th with 75, and eSwatini 70th with 73 destinations.
Further down the regional rankings, mobility becomes more restricted.
Madagascar stands at position 84 with access to 58 destinations, followed by the Comoro Islands at position 89 with 53, while Angola sits at position 93, granting entry to only 48 destinations without a prior visa.
The index data reflects persistent differences in global mobility within Southern Africa.
Island states benefit from stronger diplomatic and travel agreements, while most mainland nations remain constrained by limited visa-waiver arrangements.
The overall picture indicates that, despite some gradual progress, passport power across much of the region continues to lag behind global averages.
Rest of World
Globally, Singapore has maintained its lead as the world’s most powerful passport, offering visa-free access to 193 destinations, followed by South Korea with 190 destinations, while Japan is ranked third with 189.
The US, for the first time, slipped out of the Top 10, ranked 12th with 180 destinations.
Several European countries, including Germany, share fourth place, each providing access to 188 destinations without a prior visa.
At the lower end of the global ranking, mobility remains significantly restricted. Afghanistan occupies the bottom position with visa-free access to only 24 destinations, while Syria and Iraq follow closely behind with 26 and 29, respectively.
