Curious about where you’ll find the safest countries in the world? Global Finance magazine has put together a list of 128 countries across the world, ranked from safest to least safest.
Their safety index factors in risks of natural disaster with crime, terrorism and war.
So which countries are safe, and which are not? The safety score for countries equally weighs each of the three factors: war and peace, personal security, and natural disaster risk. 16 of the top 20 safest countries are in Europe. Only Qatar, Singapore, New Zealand, and Canada rank in the top 20 without being in Europe!
As for the most dangerous countries in the world? The Philippines is least safe while Yemen is second least safe. This is because the Philippines has poor scores in peace, security, and lots of natural disasters. Yemen’s terrible score is due to war and famine but the country has a very low risk of natural disaster.
Now look, we’re not saying that this is the definitive list of where’s safe to travel right now. Use your common sense, keep up with current news and weather warnings and you’ll be just fine in most places.
The Safest Countries in the World,
1. Iceland is Ranked the 1st Safest Country in the World
If you want to feel especially safe then there is considerable proof that Iceland takes the top crown. With a small population of just over 300,000 the country doesn’t even have an army and it has one of the lowest murder rates in the world.
Other unusual reasons include the fact that there are no harmful animals and not even the president needs a bodyguard.
2. Switzerland is Ranked the 2nd Safest Country in the World
Crime remains relatively low in Switzerland although petty theft does happen. The threat from terrorism in Switzerland is also generally low.
3. Finland is Ranked the 3rd Safest Country in the World
Finland is statistically one of the least dangerous places on earth, based on the World Economic Forum’s data.
4. Portugal is Ranked the 4th Safest Country in the World
Crime rates in Portugal are some of the lowest in Europe and the political climate in the country has been stable for years.
5. Austria is Ranked the 5th Safest Country in the World
Peace Index ranks Austria among the top five most peaceful countries in the world. Low crime rates, low terrorism incidents and a safe natural environment round it off.
6. Norway is Ranked the 6th Safest Country in the World
Norway is extremely safe! 87% of Norwegians have confidence in their local police, the seventh highest percentage in the world.
7. Qatar is Ranked the 7th Safest Country in the World
Despite its location in an often volatile area of the Middle East, Qatar is generally a safe country with a low crime rate.
8. Singapore is Ranked the 8th Safest Country in the World
Singapore ranks extremely highly in terms of safety, especially in digital, infrastructure, health and personal security.
9. Denmark is Ranked the 9th Safest Country in the World
Denmark offers a safe and stable place for people to live and visit, and is the least corrupt country in the world.
Even large cities like Copenhagen are clean, safe and well policed.
10. New Zealand is Ranked the 10th Safest Country in the World
Transparency International’s 2017 Corruption Perception Index ranks New Zealand the least corrupt country in the world, equal with Denmark.
There’s low crime levels and the country doesn’t even have any seriously dangerous wildlife for you to worry about.
11. Canada is Ranked the 11th Safest Country in the World
Canada is considered one of the safest destinations in the world. Crime rates are low, police are trusted, easy to contact, and quick to respond.
Looking for the best hotels in Canada? Check out where to stay in Canada
12. Slovenia is Ranked the 12th Safest Country in the World
Slovenia is a green and safe country/destination. It’s often considered one of the safest countries in Eastern Europe. Wherever you are, even late at night in major cities, you have no cause for concern
13. Sweden is Ranked the 13th Safest Country in the World
Violent crime is extremely uncommon in Sweden, and natural disasters are rare. When it comes to one of the safest countries in the world, Sweden always scores highly.
14. Czech Republic is Ranked the 14th Safest Country in the World
Most visitors to the Czech Republic experience no difficulties but should be aware of street crime and petty theft, particularly in Prague. No natural disasters though!
15. Spain is Ranked the 15th Safest Country in the World
Spain is easily one of the safest countries in Europe. Although there can be some crime and threats of terror attacks, it is overall very safe and stable.
16. Ireland is Ranked the 16th Safest Country in the World
With a low natural disaster rate and small rural towns, the country is generally seen as safe. The bigger cities like Dublin, Cork and Limerick do have a higher crime risk, but in general Ireland is a safe country to visit.
17. Estonia is Ranked the 17th Safest Country in the World
According to a report by the World Economic Forum, Estonia is globally among the safest countries to visit. It’s stable with relatively low crime rates.
18. Australia is Ranked the 18th Safest Country in the World
Australia is a peaceful country with a moderate climate and low levels of crime but it is important to avoid dangerous situations and to keep yourself safe.
19. Belgium is Ranked the 19th Safest Country in the World
Belgium is a place with an exceptionally high degree of safety and security in society. There are political protests at times, but they are generally peaceful.
20. Germany is Ranked the 20th Safest Country in the World
Germany often ranks in international studies as one of the safest, most peaceful countries in the world. Natural disasters are rare, as is the threat of war.
21. United Arab Emirates is Ranked the 21st Safest Country in the World
96.8% of people feel it is safe to walk out at night in the UAE. It scores high in strong security and policing.
22. Croatia is Ranked the 22nd Safest Country in the World
Croatia basically ticks all the boxes in terms of war and peace, personal security, and risk of natural disaster.
23. Oman is Ranked the 23rd Safest Country in the World
Oman is ranked as one of the safest and most relaxing countries in the world and is home to some of the most welcoming people in the world.
24. Latvia is Ranked the 24th Safest Country in the World
Latvia is one of the largest European countries in terms of landmass that has a very small population at 30 per Km compared that to the UK which is 275 per km.
Crime rates are relatively low, and even pickpockets are not that common.
25. Lithuania is Ranked the 25th Safest Country in the World
With a low crime rate and pretty much sheltered from natural disasters, Lithuania is a very safe country to both live and travel.
26. Slovakia is Ranked the 26th Safest Country in the World
Crime rates in Slovakia are super low and violent crime is almost non-existent. The U.S. Department of State has labelled Slovakia as a LOW-threat location.
27. Poland is Ranked the 27th Safest Country in the World
Poland is one of the larger countries in Central Europe and is generally a very safe.
According to Booking.com, based on its 2018 guest experiences reviews, Poland ranks as the third most welcoming place on earth!
28. Hungary is Ranked the 28th Safest Country in the World
Hungary is one of the highest ranked European countries on the Global peace index.
Natural disasters are rare, as is the threat of war.
29. Mongolia is Ranked the 29th Safest Country in the World
Mongolia is one of the least crime-ridden countries to visit, and they are arguably the most friendly & warmhearted people in the world.
30. Bhutan is Ranked the 30th Safest Country in the World
Bhutan is the only country in the world to measure the happiness of its citizens instead of its GDP, their continued investment into its people’s wellbeing has achieved many things, above all a low crime rate.
31. Netherlands is Ranked the 31st Safest Country in the World
Despite its lax laws, the Netherlands is a very safe country to live or visit. It has a very low crime rate, but is prone to flooding as almost a third of the country is below sea level.
32. Cyprus is Ranked the 32nd Safest Country in the World
Cyprus is a beautiful island in the Mediterranean, although it has a long history of conflict, the crime rate here is very low and Cypriots generally feel very safe.
It has become a popular tourist destination in recent years and in 2019 it set a new record for the number of visitors.
33. Romania is Ranked the 33rd Safest Country in the World
With a crime rate below the European average, Romania is one of the safest countries in Central and Eastern Europe.
According to the Global Peace Index Romania has a score of 26 out of 162 countries.
34. South Korea is Ranked the 34th Safest Country in the World
The crime rate in South Korea is incredibly low. Some travellers may worry about tensions at the border with North Korea but the actual risk of any warfare is very low.
35. Uruguay is Ranked the 35th Safest Country in the World
Uruguay is one of the safest countries to visit in Latin America.
The Global Peace Index in 2020 ranked Uruguay 35 out of 163 countries when it comes to safety and peace in the country.
36. France is Ranked the 36th Safest Country in the World
France is generally considered a safe country, with many tourists flocking to its coastal shores in Summer.
With a massive police presence, Paris is considered one of the safer world cities.
37. Kuwait is Ranked the 37th Safest Country in the World
The possibilities of foreigners being harmed in any way or attacked are highly unlikely and petty crime is not common in Kuwait.
However, you should avoid public gatherings or demonstrations of any kind as they are known to sometimes turn violent.
38. United Kingdom is Ranked the 38th Safest Country in the World
The UK is a popular destination for many tourists, violent crime is rare and there is a low chance that as a tourist, you will experience anything more than petty crime.
Looking for the best hotels in The UK? Check out where to stay in The UK
39. Malaysia is Ranked the 39th Safest Country in the World
Malaysia is generally a peaceful and safe country for travellers, although there are some no-go areas in certain parts.
Violent crime rates are low but robberies and assaults do happen so it is best to be wise.
40. Italy is Ranked the 40th Safest Country in the World
Italy has a low violent crime and general crime incidents have been decreasing year on year.
Most tourists are never bothered by safety concerns other than petty crime, pickpockets may sometimes be an issue in urban areas cities or at crowded events.
41. Botswana is Ranked the 41st Safest Country in the World
Botswana is one of the most stable and safest countries in Africa.
Unlike other countries in the region you can even safely drink the tap water in the towns and cities, and you do not need protection against cholera or yellow fever.
42. Bulgaria is Ranked the 42nd Safest Country in the World
Visitors to Bulgaria shouldn’t have too much to worry about when it comes to their security.
With low levels of violent crime, it’s thought to be no less dangerous than any other European country.
43. Japan is Ranked the 43rd Safest Country in the World
Japan is overall considered a very safe country for travelers, ranking high on the Global Peace Index.
Like any country, Japan has areas that travelers should avoid and use common sense, especially when visiting nightlife districts and using ATMs
44. Kazakhstan is Ranked the 44th Safest Country in the World
Kazakhstan is generally a safe destination for tourists, mugging and theft can occur in cities and rural areas.
Some areas of Kazakhstan are closed to visitors unless prior permission has been received.
45. Morocco is Ranked the 45th Safest Country in the World
Morocco is one of the safest countries in Africa for tourists, second behind Botswana on this list.
It was updated to level 1 in early 2018, by the US department of state, which means it’s considered safe to travel and tourists should exercise a normal level of caution.
46. Moldova is Ranked the 46th Safest Country in the World
Moldova’s crime rate has seen a year on year decrease since 1990.
If you plan to drive in Moldova be aware that some roads are poorly maintained, not well lit and have poor signage.
47. Laos is Ranked the 47th Safest Country in the World
Laos is a relatively safe country for travellers, although certain areas remain off-limits due to unexploded artillery left from warfare.
Petty crimes do occur and as a visitor, you may be an obvious target for thieves, so do take necessary precautions.
48. Jordan is Ranked the 48th Safest Country in the World
Compared to some of its neighbouring countries in the Middle East, Jordan is a very safe country.
Stealing from or harming tourists is strongly frowned upon by locals and harsh punishments exist for offenders.
49. Georgia is Ranked the 49th Safest Country in the World
Georgia is one of the safest countries in Eurasia with a very low crime rate.
A public opinion survey with questioned 98% Georgians said that they feel 100% safe being at Georgia territory.
50. Argentina is Ranked the 50th Safest Country in the World
Argentina is one of the safest countries for travellers in Latin America. Buenos Aires, like most major city’s, has some areas to avoid although it’s generally safe for tourists, but be aware of petty crimes like counterfeit money.
Want to see more? Check out the most dangerous cities in the world here.
How do these rankings work?
BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK
MOST POPULAR
SIMILAR ARTICLES