Somalia vs Yemen Passport Comparison

Somalia flag

Somalia

AFRICA

97
Rank
Visa-Free Access32 countries

The mobility picture for the Somali passport is restrictive in 2026: 97th globally, with only 32 destinations available through simplified entry routes. African mobili...

Yemen flag

Yemen

MIDDLE EAST

98
Rank
Visa-Free Access31 countries

The Yemeni passport remains one of the harder passports to travel with in 2026, ranking 98th globally with access to 31 destinations. The direction has not all been po...

Somalia and Yemen passports solve different travel problems, even when the headline comparison looks simple. The mobility picture for the Somali passport is restrictive in 2026: 97th globally, with only 32 destinations available through simplified entry routes. African mobility tends to be strongest on regional corridors and more uneven on long-haul routes. The direction has not all been positive: it stood at 81st in 2006. Access has still improved, rising from 15 to 32 destinations. The supporting scores are modest too, at 8 globally and 12 for openness. This passport leans heavily on arrival-based access rather than pure visa-free entry: 20 destinations offer visa on arrival, including Madagascar, Bangladesh, and Burundi. There are also 10 visa-free destinations, such as Benin, Cook Islands, and Dominica. 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 Yemeni passport remains one of the harder passports to travel with in 2026, ranking 98th globally with access to 31 destinations. The direction has not all been positive: it stood at 78th in 2006. Access has still improved, rising from 18 to 31 destinations. This passport leans heavily on arrival-based access rather than pure visa-free entry: 20 destinations offer visa on arrival, including Madagascar, Burundi, and Cambodia. There are also 8 visa-free destinations, such as Cook Islands, Dominica, and Malaysia. The practical advice is simple: check the visa route early and keep the 6-month validity buffer in mind before booking. Before relying on any route, verify the current rule with the destination government or embassy because entry policies can move without much notice. 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.

On raw mobility, Somalia currently leads this comparison with 32 visa-free destinations, compared with 31 for Yemen. That is a gap of 1 destinations. Somalia is ranked 97, while Yemen is ranked 98. The ranking difference is useful, but it should be read alongside destination quality.

These passports share 5 visa-free destinations in the current comparison data, including Cook Islands, Dominica, Malaysia, Micronesia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. 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: Somalia has 5 destination(s) in this comparison that Yemen does not share, while Yemen has 3.

Somalia carries a AFRICA travel profile, while Yemen carries a MIDDLE EAST 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.

  • 5 visa-free destinations are shared by all compared passports.
  • The largest exclusive advantage is 5 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

Visa-Free Destinations

2026 Ranking

Global Mobility Score

Somalia
8/100
Yemen
8/100

Openness Score

Somalia
12/100
Yemen
8/100

Continent

Somalia
AFRICA
Yemen
MIDDLE EAST

Schengen Member

Citizenship by Investment

Residency by Investment

Visa on Arrival

eTA Available

e-Visa Available

Visa Required

Summary Insights

Comparison Summary & Recommendations

Overall Winner

Somalia

With 32 visa-free destinations, Somalia offers the most global mobility among the compared passports.

Most Unique Access

Somalia

Somalia provides exclusive visa-free access to 5 destinations not accessible with the other passports.

Key Insights

  • All compared passports share access to 5 common destinations
  • The strongest passport offers 32 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

5
Shared Destinations
5
Unique to Somalia
3
Unique to Yemen

Exclusive Visa-Free Access

Somalia flag

Somalia

5 unique destinations

BeninThe GambiaHaitiRwandaGhana
Yemen flag

Yemen

3 unique destinations

SudanSyriaSuriname
Note: Exclusive visa-free access means destinations that are only accessible visa-free with that specific passport and not with any of the other compared passports.

Shared Visa-Free Destinations (5)

Countries that all compared passports can access visa-free

Cook IslandsDominicaMalaysiaMicronesiaSt. Vincent and the Grenadines

Historical Ranking Trends

Ranking Trends Over Time

Historical passport ranking comparison from 2006 to 2026 (lower rank is better)

YearSomalia RankYemen RankSomalia Visa-freeYemen Visa-free
200681781518
2007848000
200887822530
2009878200
201095883138
2011100912839
2012102922841
201391833243
201492853243
20151081003039
2016101973138
2017100983035
20181051033237
20191041033133
20201021023333
20211111123433
20221061073433
20231041053534
2024991003635
20251021033533
202697983231

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.

Somalia

  • Benin
  • Cook Islands
  • Dominica
  • The Gambia
  • Haiti
  • Malaysia

Yemen

  • Cook Islands
  • Dominica
  • Malaysia
  • Micronesia
  • St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Sudan

FAQ

Somalia vs Yemen Passport FAQs

Answers to common questions about Somalia vs Yemen passport strength, visa-free access, and travel planning.

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