While Ireland reaches the top of the list of the world’s most powerful passports in 2025, Angola finds itself near the bottom, ranking 140th (tied) out of 199 countries and territories evaluated, according to the Nomad Passport Index 2025, published by the international consultancy Nomad Capitalist.
The index assesses passports based on five key criteria: visa-free travel access (50%), taxation system (20%), global perception (10%), dual citizenship opportunities (10%), and personal freedom (10%). Angola received a total score of 49.00 points, placing it well below the global average and behind several other African nations.
Travel freedom is the main obstacle
Angolan passport holders have access to only 64 destinations worldwide — including 21 visa-free countries, 38 countries offering visa on arrival, and 5 destinations requiring electronic travel authorization (eTA). In contrast, top-ranking countries like Ireland, Switzerland, and Portugal offer visa-free access to over 180 countries.
Taxation system is a positive aspect
Despite its overall low ranking, Angola performs moderately well in the taxation category, earning 40 points due to its policy of not taxing foreign income of resident citizens — an attractive feature for expats and international investors.
Other factors keep Angola at a disadvantage
In the areas of global perception, dual citizenship, and personal freedom, Angola scored just 30 points each. This suggests Angolan citizens face challenges related to how they are perceived globally, along with restrictions on personal freedom and limited flexibility in holding multiple nationalities.
Ireland leads for the first time
The biggest surprise of the 2025 index is Ireland’s rise to the top, surpassing countries like Switzerland and Greece. The Irish passport stood out for its global acceptance, competitive tax policies, strong international reputation, and respect for individual freedoms.
Angola Among the Weakest Passports in SADC, Reveals 2025 Global Index
According to the latest Nomad Passport Index 2025, published by international consultancy Nomad Capitalist, Angola ranks 140th globally out of 199 countries and territories — making it one of the least powerful passports in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Angola received a total score of 49.00 points, reflecting a weak performance in terms of travel freedom, global perception, and personal freedom, despite scoring relatively well in taxation.
📊 SADC Countries Ranked by Passport Strength
| Country | Global Rank | Total Score |
|---|---|---|
| 🇸🇨 Seychelles | 57 | 92.5 |
| 🇲🇺 Mauritius | 69T | 85.5 |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | 100T | 68.5 |
| 🇧🇼 Botswana | 110T | 63.5 |
| 🇳🇦 Namibia | 119T | 57.0 |
| 🇲🇼 Malawi | 119T | 57.0 |
| 🇿🇲 Zambia | 123T | 55.0 |
| 🇱🇸 Lesotho | 125T | 54.5 |
| 🇸🇿 Eswatini | 129T | 53.0 |
| 🇹🇿 Tanzania | 137T | 50.0 |
| 🇦🇴 Angola | 140T | 49.0 |
| 🇰🇲 Comoros | 148T | 47.5 |
| 🇲🇿 Mozambique | 150T | 47.0 |
| 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe | 150T | 47.0 |
| 🇲🇬 Madagascar | 152T | 46.5 |
| 🇨🇩 DR Congo | 187 | 36.0 |
📚 Source: Nomad Passport Index 2025, by Nomad Capitalist
(nomadcapitalist.com)
⚠️ Angola lags behind regional average
Except for DR Congo, Angola ranks below nearly every other SADC country, including smaller nations such as Lesotho and Eswatini.
🌍 Why such a low score?
Despite a solid taxation score of 40 points (thanks to not taxing foreign income of residents), Angola struggles in:
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Travel freedom (only 64 accessible destinations),
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Global perception, and
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Personal freedom.
