The Numbeo platform publishes an annual ranking of the world’s safest countries for tourists and expat, and is one of the most recognised international tools for assessing safety levels across countries and cities. The Georgetown University Institute for Women, Peace and Security in Washington DC also releases a list of the safest countries for women every few years. The Global Peace Index is compiled by the international Institute for Economics and Peace, and is headquartered in Sydney. We’ve compared the leading rankings to help you choose the safest places in the world to both live and travel.
Numbeo Rankings: Based on Tourist and Expat Experiences
Numbeo compiles its ranking of the safest countries based on surveys from everyday users. Participants are asked to rate crime levels in different cities, like how safe it feels to walk during the day or night, the overall sense of safety, and various risk-related factors. These indicators are then used to calculate an overall safety index for each country.
According to Numbeo users, the top 10 safest countries in 2025 are:
- Andorra
- United Arab Emirates
- Qatar
- Taiwan
- Oman
- Isle of Man
- Hong Kong
- Armenia
- Singapore
- Japan
Interestingly, Sweden and Norway — usually high in many other safety rankings — didn’t even make the top 10. According to Numbeo, Sweden is considered less safe than Barbados, Lebanon, and Ukraine.
The most dangerous countries in the Numbeo index include:
- Venezuela
- Papua New Guinea
- Haiti
- Afghanistan
- South Africa
- Honduras
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Syria
- Jamaica
- Peru
It’s important to note that Numbeo is based on subjective survey data and focuses solely on crime rates. Yet crime is only one aspect of safety. A respondent’s perception can vary widely depending on their background—for example, someone from a relatively safe country in Western Europe may have a different view of danger than someone living through a civil war in Latin America.
Crime Statistics: No Mafia, Few Murders
Most countries publish their own official crime statistics. Homicide, rape and armed robbery rates per 100,000 people can give a rough indication of public safety. However, this kind of data is only a loose indicator, for instance:
- In developed countries, crimes are more likely to be reported and registered, making them appear more dangerous than they are.
- In developing countries with high corruption and weak legal protections, people may avoid going to the police altogether or see no point in doing so – therefore many crimes go unreported.
The effectiveness of law enforcement can be assessed through the Global Organized Crime Index, compiled by GI-TOC, which is an international non-governmental organisation dedicated to combating organised crime. The index evaluates data on crimes such as human trafficking for exploitation, drug trafficking, cyber fraud, and other offences, as well as the measures taken by governments to tackle them.
Countries with the lowest levels of organised crime include:
- Vanuatu
- Liechtenstein
- Monaco
- Dominica
- Armenia
- Grenada
- Finland
- Antigua and Barbuda
Myanmar, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay and Congo topped the anti-rating list.
The United Nations maintains separate statistics on homicide rates per 100,000 inhabitants, as these are provided by national governments. Not all countries submit accurate or complete data, and some may even falsify it to improve their image internationally. Nevertheless, based on the available data, the countries with the lowest levels of violent crime are:
- Singapore
- Qatar
- Oman
- Bahrain
- Japan
- Kuwait
- Indonesia
- Vanuatu
- French Polynesia
- Hong Kong
High homicide rates are reported in Haiti, Jamaica, Ecuador, South Africa, and Honduras. Many African and South American countries don’t collect or even publish such data—meaning states like Sudan or Somalia, who are both experiencing ongoing civil conflict, may actually be the worst affected, but we just don’t know its full extent.
The Global Peace Index: Development Over Wars
The Global Peace Index is a composite indicator measuring overall safety and peacefulness in countries and is compiled by an international research centre based in Sydney. The ranking draws on official statistics and independent data from various global institutions, including the World Bank, the UN, and national governments.
The index considers a broad range of risks, such as:
- Internal armed conflicts
- Wars involving the state
- Terrorism
- Crime levels
- Government expenditure on the military, police, and weapons
- The development of democratic institutions and protection of human rights
- Numbers of prisoners, soldiers, and refugees
- Accessibility of firearms within the country
The 10 most peaceful countries in 2024 were:
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Austria
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- Switzerland
- Portugal
- Denmark
- Slovenia
- Malaysia
Countries listed as the most dangerous included Israel, Russia, Syria, Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Sudan, and Yemen.
The Safest Countries for Women: Education and Employment for All
The Georgetown University Institute for Women, Peace and Security in Washington D.C. regularly compiles an index of the world’s safest countries for women.
It takes into account the following factors:
- Access to education, employment, politics and public administration
- Risk of gender-based violence from partners or strangers
- Legal protections against gender discrimination and sexual harassment
- Maternal mortality rates
- The gender ratio at birth – if the number of male newborns significantly exceeds the standard 1.05 ratio, it may indicate hidden femicide and societal bias against girls
In 2023, the safest countries for women were listed as:
- Denmark
- Switzerland
- Sweden
- Finland
- Luxembourg
- Iceland
- Norway
- Austria
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
The most dangerous for women across multiple indicators were Afghanistan, Somalia, Syria, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Iraq.
Belarus reported the lowest maternal mortality rate, while Latvia ranked highest in terms of women’s economic freedom. Countries with the lowest risk of violence included Switzerland and Singapore.
The authors of the index emphasise that no country is entirely free from discrimination and gender-based violence. In only 40 countries do women receive more than 5 years of education on average, with access to education and employment for women strongly correlating with economic development, national safety, and overall prosperity.
Natural Disasters: Avoiding Volcanoes and Hurricanes
A low crime rate and peaceful population don’t necessarily mean a peaceful life. Earthquakes, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions are natural threats to bear in mind when relocating or preparing for travel, and are becoming more and more part of everyday life in certain parts of the world.
Researchers at Ruhr University in Germany compiled a ranking in 2018 of countries most at risk from natural disasters.
This list included:
- Tonga – a Pacific Ocean archipelago frequently hit by deadly cyclones
- The Philippines – an Asian island nation with active volcanoes, frequent hurricanes and landslides
- Guyana – a South American country vulnerable to floods, earthquakes, and tsunamis
Other countries on the list included Fiji, Brunei, Bangladesh, and Guatemala.
The researchers assessed not only the risk of disasters, but also the government’s readiness, including emergency response capacity and evacuation planning. This is why Japan, despite its frequent earthquakes, was not included. The index mainly features economically weaker nations with limited resources for disaster preparedness and recovery.
Countries with minimal natural disaster risk include Malta, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the Nordic and Baltic states.
While climate change is increasing the likelihood of natural disasters globally, the safest nations will continue to be those that can warn their populations ahead of time and effectively manage emergencies and the aftermath.
Dangerous Animals, Snakes and Insects: Only in Zoos
Wildlife risks take into account factors such as insects, predatory animals, and venomous reptiles. For this reason, relatively safe countries like Australia rarely top the safety rankings as the country is known for its ‘colourful’ collection of dangerous animals, with many accadotes to be told from both visitors and locals. Encounters with poisonous snakes and spiders are also possible in Brazil, Central Asia, and parts of Latin America, not forgetting sharks that are a risk in the Red Sea and around the Caribbean islands.
Additional Risk Factors
When planning travel or emigration, it’s also worth considering:
- Risk of Infectious Diseases: Will you need vaccinations for typhoid, malaria, or tropical fevers?
- Healthcare Standards: How long will you wait to see a GP or specialist? Can you access modern diagnostic technology?
- Local Attitudes: How friendly are residents towards foreigners, including people of different ethnic backgrounds?
- Economic Stability: High unemployment or financial crises increase the risk of theft, scams, and violent crime.
FAQ
Which countries are the safest overall?
Iceland, Singapore, and New Zealand consistently top various safety rankings.
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