South Korea’s passport ranking has steadily declined over the past six years, dropping to 39th place in the “2025 Passport Index” published by global consulting firm Nomad Capitalist. This marks a seven-spot fall from its 32nd-place position last year.

The Passport Index evaluates countries based on five key criteria: visa-free travel, taxation, global perception, the ability to hold dual citizenship and personal freedom. Korea received relatively low scores in areas such as its taxation system, restrictions on dual citizenship and limitations on personal freedom, contributing to its lower overall ranking.

Ireland topped the list, followed by Switzerland and Greece in joint second place. Portugal came in fourth, with Malta and Italy tied for fifth. European countries dominated the top 10, claiming nine of the highest-ranking positions. The United States ranked 45th.

Among Korea’s neighbors, Japan shared 37th place with Malaysia, while China came in at 119th.