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Anybody spending this part of winter dreaming about traveling to new places inevitably wonders where it’s safe, and where it isn’t safe, to travel.
To help make travel planning easier and get a definitive answer to that question, you can turn to a report called the Safest Countries In The World 2023 from World Population Review, an independent organization that works to make demographic information about the world’s population easily accessible. The report is pulled from the Global Peace Index, which is published annually by the Institute for Economics & Peace after it compiles data to rank the world’s safest and most peaceful countries.
A total of 163 countries are ranked based on 23 different indicators that gauge the absence of violence in the country as well as its citizens’ fear of violence. In addition, the safest countries in the world are often ranked based on various other factors such as political stability, healthcare quality, and overall safety for residents and visitors including the occurrence of natural disasters. Organizations like the Global Peace Index and the Institute for Economics and Peace use the combined data I mentioned above to determine global rankings.
These indicators include the number and duration of both internal and external violent conflicts, level of political instability, potential for terrorist acts, number of homicides, level of violent crimes, military expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product, and ease of access to small arms and light weapons.
Taken together, the indicators measure a country’s state of peace across three broad areas: Ongoing international conflict, societal safety and security, and militarization.
As you would expect, the world’s safest countries share many similarities. For example, countries that are the most peaceful have high levels of wealth, social welfare, and education.
These countries are also known to have effective criminal justice systems and governments that “maintain healthy relationships with their citizens,” according to the World Population Review.
So, let’s get to it. Here are the top 12 safest countries in the world according to the Global Peace Index.
12 Safest Countries To Visit (According to the Latest Data In 2023)
1. Iceland
Amazingly, according to the Global Peace Index, Iceland has been the safest country in the world for the 14th year in a row.
“Iceland has a very low level of crime, which is typically attributed to its high standard of living, small population, strong social attitudes against crime, a high level of trust in their well-trained police force, and a lack of tension between social and economic classes,” according to World Population Review.
Two other factors contribute significantly to Iceland’s high state of peacefulness. First, Iceland’s police do not carry firearms. Secondly, Iceland has a number of laws that guarantee equality, including those mandating legal same-sex marriage and same-sex adoptions, religious freedom, and equal pay for men and women. No wonder why Island tops the list of the safest countries in the world.
2. New Zealand
New Zealand also has a very low crime rate, and violent crime is especially rare, World Population Review explains.
“New Zealanders are generally open-minded and the country has laws in place to prevent the violation of anyone’s freedom of speech or expression,” World Population Review continues. “As in Iceland, police in New Zealand do not carry personal firearms.”
It’s a great place where solo travelers said they felt the safest when visiting.
3. Ireland
Ireland became notably more peaceful in 2021. And then, in 2022, the country moved from number 11 on the Global Peace Index to number 3 making it one of the safest countries to live in or visit.
“Crime is quite low outside of a few city neighborhoods (and as in any country, one should be wary of pickpockets and scammers in tourist-dense areas), and there is little threat of cultural violence or terrorism,” World Population Review notes. “In fact, the Irish landscape may pose a greater safety risk than its people — the country’s breathtaking cliffs and winding country roads must be treated with respect, especially during a sudden rainstorm or in areas with no cell reception.”
4. Denmark
“Denmark is one of the few countries where people report feeling safe at any time of day or night, even children,” according to World Population Review. “Denmark has a high level of equality and a strong sense of common responsibility for social welfare — two qualities that contribute to its citizens’ feelings of safety and happiness.”
It’s also worth noting that while Denmark has a high personal income tax, these taxes fund social programs that ensure everyone receives services, including tuition-free access to higher education and healthcare.
Denmark is also on the list of the most safest European countries where you can travel alone as a woman and feel completely safe.
5. Austria
“While violent demonstrations in the wake of ongoing social unrest remain a concern, these are relatively easy to avoid and otherwise, Austria is a very safe country to visit,” according to World Population Review. “Serious crimes are uncommon (with the usual caveat to watch for pickpockets and purse-snatchers).”
Another reason for Austria’s high peacefulness score is that there have been no major acts of terrorism there in recent years.
6. Portugal
Portugal ranked 18th on the Global Peace Index in 2014, and since then, it has climbed up the ranking. Interestingly, unlike some other countries known for their peacefulness, Portugal’s police force is armed. In this case, however, the presence of armed police has led to a decreasing crime rate.
“In recent years, Portugal has experienced an economic resurgence, decreasing its unemployment rate from more than 17 percent to less than 7 percent,” World Population Review points out. “Portugal consistently ranks among the best countries for retirement, due in no small part to its high level of safety.”
7. Slovenia
Slovenia, one of the former members of Yugoslavia and now a member of the European Union, owes its high safety ranking to high travel security, low medical risks, and high road safety scores.
“Like many Slavic states, Slovenia installed a democratic government in the mid-1990s and is now focused upon improving quality of life in many areas, including safety and sustainability,” according to World Population Review.
8. Czech Republic
“Crime rates in the Czech Republic have steadily decreased over the years, with rates of violent crime in particular dropping significantly,” World Population Review notes. “The Czech Republic also has a low incidence of terrorism and natural disasters.”
Other factors accounting for its peacefulness and citizens’ well-being are that the Czech Republic also “boasts many clean and efficient hospitals and a state-run health insurance system that offers affordable rates and enables near-universal coverage,” World Population Review continues.
9. Singapore
Singapore, which is actually a city-state, is an island country located off the coast of the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It consists of Singapore Island and some 60 smaller islands.
“Singapore has one of the lowest crime rates in the world, possibly due to the severe penalties that are issued for even small crimes,” World Population Review points out. “The government and police strictly control guns and other firearms, and violent and confrontational crimes are rare in Singapore.”
10. Japan
Importantly, Japan has ranked among the top 10 safest countries on the Global Peace Index for 14 years. It consistently receives high scores for low crime rates, minimal internal conflict, and virtually non-existent political unrest, according to World Population Review. What’s also noteworthy is those scores exist despite the country’s proximity to its potentially hostile neighbors China and North Korea.
“Japan is known for having limited immigration and limited access to firearms, as the Japanese do not view carrying a firearm as an individual’s right,” World Population Review continues.
11. Canada
Key reasons for Canada’s high ranking are cold weather and low population density, which make for safe travel. However, what you need to watch for in Canada are wildfires that can make travel difficult in all bigger cities for people with respiratory conditions.
When it comes to crime, the quote from Canada’s dedicated section of the Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection’s report sums up travel safety across the country this way, saying “as traveling destinations go it doesn’t get much safer than Canada … Violent crime is comparatively low and there is a low incidence of gun-related crime.”
Also, Norway, Switzerland, and Canada rank as the safest places for women and the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities.
12. Switzerland
Even though it ranks among the highest weapons exporters per capita, in comparison to other countries, there is very little crime in each Swiss canton. Switzerland is a well-known safe destination where local authorities are helpful and it’s easy to navigate the public transportation system, even at night.
Governments such as the United States just advise their citizens to exercise normal precautions in Switzerland and issue Level One travel advisories for the country, the lowest possible advisory.
FAQs
What Is the Safest Country to Vacation In?
Iceland tops the list as the world’s safest country to visit. This peaceful country has the least safety concerns for several reasons, including low violent crime rates, a lack of political violence, and low levels of violence against foreigners. This list has traditionally been dominated by Scandinavian countries.
Which Are the Most Dangerous Countries in the World?
The Philippines is the least safe while Yemen comes in second place. This is because the Philippines has plenty of security risks and lots of natural disasters. Yemen’s terrible score is due to war and famine but the country has a very low risk of severe weather events.
What Are International Security Ratings Based On?
International security ratings are based on a variety of security risks, including terrorism, social unrest, as well as violent and petty crime. To evaluate safety concerns in more detail, other factors include transportation infrastructure, emergency services, health measures, and susceptibility to weather emergencies.
What Is the Safest City to Visit in Europe?
Reykjavik is not only the safest city in Europe for 2024, but also one of the safest major cities on the planet. The Icelandic capital city, known for its mystical landscapes and opportunities to witness the Northern Lights, has relatively low levels of crime and is a great destination for solo travelers.
Which Travel Insurance Should I Choose?
With its ninth annual “ State of Travel Insurance Safest Destinations” report, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection is a travel insurance that may inspire your decision on which popular tourist destination is on the list of the safest countries to visit in 2024.
