Pan-African
Which countries led the 2025 Africa Visa Openness Index?
The Gambia and Rwanda tied at 1.000 in the 2025 Africa Visa Openness Index. Kenya was third at 0.962. Across the continent, the report counted visa-free access in 814 country-to-country travel scenarios.
Sources checked
Two destinations scored 1.000 and eight others made up the first ten entries.
The index compares destinations across African passports
The score averages the treatment of citizens of other African countries. Each visa-free scenario receives 1 point, a visa on arrival receives 0.8, and a visa needed before travel receives zero. The score captures how the destination treats other African passport holders. Source 1 Source 2
Two countries reached the maximum
A score of 1.000 means every scenario assessed for that destination was visa-free. The Gambia and Rwanda both reached it. Countries with close lower scores can have different mixes of visa-free, visa-on-arrival and advance visa requirements. Source 1
Visa-free access increased on the continent
The report counted 814 visa-free country pairs in 2025, up from 803 in 2024. It put the 2025 figure at 28.2% of the scenarios measured, compared with about 20% in 2016. Each scenario is a passport and destination combination. The index does not weight it by passenger volume. Source 1
Visa openness and reciprocity answer separate questions
A destination can admit another country’s citizens without a visa even when its own nationals face a visa requirement in that country. The report also measures reciprocity within regional communities. For a particular trip, use the destination’s current rules for the traveller’s passport and purpose. Source 1 Source 2