South Africans require a visa to visit 100 countries and can visit about 63 countries visa- free for up to 90 days. Thirty-five of these countries issue a visa on arrival.
This is according to the Global Passport Power ranking, which places SA at 44, with a visa-free score of 98.
The index, created by Arton Capital, ranks passports based on the number of countries citizens can visit without requiring a visa or needing one upon entry.
Topping the ranks is the United Arab Emirates, with a score of 167. These passport holders have access to 113 visa-free countries, 54 for visa on arrival.
According to the Passport Index, UAE citizens have visa-free access to more than 84% of the world.
Runners-up Singapore and Germany share the number two spot, with both countries scoring 166. Citizens have access to 127 and 126 visa-free countries respectively.
Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Luxembourg, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Norway, South Korea and the US are next (all share the number three spot) with 165 points.
Singapore passport holders have the highest number of countries they can visit visa free, at 127.
Afghanistan is at the bottom of the list, with a score of 29, and visa-free access to only five countries - Dominica, Haiti, Micronesia, St Vincent and Grenadines.