Cameroon and Nigeria passports solve different travel problems, even when the headline comparison looks simple. The Cameroonian passport has limited but workable mobility in 2026, ranking 86th globally with access to 47 destinations. The direction has not all been positive: it stood at 70th in 2006. Access has still improved, rising from 26 to 47 destinations. The split between its global score (53) and openness score (28) is worth noticing; mobility and inbound openness are not moving in lockstep. This passport leans heavily on arrival-based access rather than pure visa-free entry: 24 destinations offer visa on arrival, including Madagascar, Bangladesh, and Bolivia. There are also 23 visa-free destinations, such as Barbados, Benin, and Central African Republic. The practical advice is simple: check the visa route early and keep the 6-month validity buffer in mind before booking. Use this as planning data, not final permission to travel; official embassy or border-authority guidance should be checked before departure. The Nigerian passport has limited but workable mobility in 2026, ranking 89th globally with access to 44 destinations. The direction has not all been positive: it stood at 62nd in 2006. Access has still improved, rising from 35 to 44 destinations. Its global and openness scores sit at 52 and 45, respectively. The smoother routes are limited, so online visa processing matters here: 40 destinations support e-visa or visa-online options, including Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, and Colombia. Alongside that, Nigerian passport holders have 27 visa-free destinations, 15 visa-on-arrival options, and 2 eTA routes. The practical advice is simple: check the visa route early and keep the 6-month validity buffer in mind before booking. Rules change, so travellers should still confirm the final entry requirement with the relevant embassy or government site before travel. Reading those profiles together gives better context than a one-line winner label, because passport strength depends on where you travel, how often rules change, and whether the passport creates practical friction at borders, airlines, or visa portals.
Cameroon vs Nigeria Passport Comparison
Cameroon
AFRICA
The Cameroonian passport has limited but workable mobility in 2026, ranking 86th globally with access to 47 destinations. The direction has not all been positive: it s...
Nigeria
AFRICA
The Nigerian passport has limited but workable mobility in 2026, ranking 89th globally with access to 44 destinations. The direction has not all been positive: it stoo...
On raw mobility, Cameroon currently leads this comparison with 47 visa-free destinations, compared with 44 for Nigeria. That is a gap of 3 destinations. Cameroon is ranked 86, while Nigeria is ranked 89. The ranking difference is useful, but it should be read alongside destination quality.
These passports share 16 visa-free destinations in the current comparison data, including Barbados, Benin, Chad, Cook Islands, Dominica, and The Gambia. That shared-access layer is the first practical filter because many trips may feel similar once the destination list overlaps. The difference starts in the exclusive-access layer: Cameroon has 7 destination(s) in this comparison that Nigeria does not share, while Nigeria has 11.
Cameroon carries a AFRICA travel profile, while Nigeria carries a AFRICA travel profile. For frequent travelers, that can affect more than tourism: Schengen access, regional perception, investment-linked citizenship or residency context, and official document reliability all shape how a passport performs in real use. Use the table below to find where the two passports diverge, then verify the current rule through official resources before booking or filing paperwork.
- 16 visa-free destinations are shared by all compared passports.
- The largest exclusive advantage is 11 destination(s) unique to one passport in this comparison.
- Ranking and access figures are rendered from country ranking history with a 2026-first year preference.
Detailed Passport Metrics
Detailed Comparison
Summary Insights
Comparison Summary & Recommendations
Overall Winner
Cameroon
With 47 visa-free destinations, Cameroon offers the most global mobility among the compared passports.
Most Unique Access
Nigeria
Nigeria provides exclusive visa-free access to 11 destinations not accessible with the other passports.
Key Insights
- • All compared passports share access to 16 common destinations
- • The strongest passport offers 47 visa-free destinations
- • Consider your travel priorities: business, leisure, or specific regions when choosing a passport
- • Visa requirements can change - always verify current entry requirements before traveling
Visa Access Breakdown
Visa Access Analysis
Understanding the overlap and unique access each passport provides
Exclusive Visa-Free Access
Cameroon
7 unique destinations
Nigeria
11 unique destinations
Shared Visa-Free Destinations (16)
Countries that all compared passports can access visa-free
Historical Ranking Trends
Ranking Trends Over Time
Historical passport ranking comparison from 2006 to 2026 (lower rank is better)
| Year | Cameroon Rank | Nigeria Rank | Cameroon Visa-free | Nigeria Visa-free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 70 | 62 | 26 | 35 |
| 2007 | 72 | 64 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 75 | 67 | 37 | 45 |
| 2009 | 75 | 67 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 85 | 76 | 42 | 51 |
| 2011 | 92 | 84 | 38 | 46 |
| 2012 | 94 | 87 | 39 | 46 |
| 2013 | 82 | 78 | 44 | 48 |
| 2014 | 82 | 79 | 46 | 49 |
| 2015 | 95 | 95 | 44 | 44 |
| 2016 | 92 | 92 | 45 | 45 |
| 2017 | 90 | 91 | 45 | 44 |
| 2018 | 93 | 94 | 48 | 47 |
| 2019 | 92 | 95 | 49 | 46 |
| 2020 | 91 | 94 | 49 | 46 |
| 2021 | 98 | 103 | 50 | 45 |
| 2022 | 93 | 98 | 50 | 45 |
| 2023 | 92 | 97 | 51 | 46 |
| 2024 | 88 | 95 | 53 | 45 |
| 2025 | 92 | 94 | 50 | 46 |
| 2026 | 86 | 89 | 47 | 44 |
Each cell shows rank and visa-free count for that year.
Destinations
Notable Visa-Free Destinations
Representative destinations that highlight each passport's strongest visa-free access profile.
Cameroon
- Barbados
- Benin
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Congo (Rep.)
- Cook Islands
Nigeria
- Cote d'Ivoire
- Barbados
- Benin
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde Islands
Resources
Official Resources
Primary government and immigration sources for policy verification before travel.
Cameroon
Nigeria
FAQ
Cameroon vs Nigeria Passport FAQs
Answers to common questions about Cameroon vs Nigeria passport strength, visa-free access, and travel planning.
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