According to the 2025 edition of the Henley Passport Index, the Ivory Coast passport ranks 84th globally, offering its holders visa-free access to 58 destinations. In the West African context, the document ranks 6th out of 15 countries assessed, just behind nations such as Ghana, Benin, and Cape Verde.

The Reference Framework: The Henley Passport Index

The Henley Index is the definitive tool for assessing passport power, analyzing 199 travel documents for access to 227 destinations.

1. Methodology: The ranking is based on reliable data provided by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). A passport's score is the number of destinations accessible without a visa, with a visa on arrival, or via an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA).
2. Meaning: The index measures citizens' freedom of international mobility and reflects a country's "soft power." Greater ease of access abroad means greater international influence and benefits for its citizens.

World Rankings: Singapore at the Top, US Declines

Globally, Singapore 's passport is the most powerful, offering visa-free access to 193 countries. It is followed by South Korea (190 destinations) and Japan (189).

1. A notable fact is the fall of the United States to 12th place (180 destinations), a first in two decades, a sign of a reconfiguration of global mobility and stricter migration policies.

Ivory Coast in the Regional Competition

In West Africa, the ranking is led by Ghana , which ranks 74th in the world with 69 visa-free destinations. Benin and Cape Verde share 77th place with 66 destinations, ahead of Togo (59 countries).

Côte d'Ivoire ranks 6th regionally and 84th globally (tied with Burkina Faso and Senegal), confirming its place in the West African top 10. Niger (86th) and Mauritania (85th) are just behind, while Nigeria brings up the rear regionally (96th worldwide) with only 44 destinations.

Here is the detailed ranking of West African passports 2025 (from most powerful to least powerful):

World Rank	Country	Visa-Free Destinations	West African Rank
74th	Ghana	69	1st
77th	Benign	66	2nd
77th	Cape Verde	66	2nd
79th	Sierra Leone	64	4th
83rd	Togo	59	5th
84th	Ivory Coast	58	6th
84th	Burkina Faso	58	6th
84th	Senegal	58	6th
85th	Mauritania	57	9th
86th	Niger	56	10th
87th	Guinea	55	11th
88th	Mali	54	12th
89th	Guinea-Bissau	53	13th
92nd	Liberia	50	14th
96th	Nigeria	44	15th

(Data for Gambia not available in this report.)

Report: Room for Progress for Ivorian Mobility

In conclusion, despite a respectable ranking in the middle of the global pack and in the West African top 10, with 58 accessible destinations, Côte d'Ivoire has room for improvement. The Henley Index will continue to serve as a barometer for measuring the country's international influence and the freedom of movement of its citizens on a global scale.