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GPI 2023

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Safest Countries in the World 2024

Snapshot

  • Iceland has been the safest country in the world for the 14th year in a row, according to the Global Peace Index.

  • The Nordic countries of Europe (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and Finland) rank among the 25 safest globally, most of them also being among the top 10 happiest nations worldwide.

  • Common attributes of the world's safest countries include high levels of wealth, social welfare, education, effective criminal justice systems, and positive government-citizen relationships.

The Global Peace Index (GPI) ranks the safest and most peaceful countries in the world. This report is published annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace, which defines itself as "an independent, non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to shifting the world's focus to peace as a positive, achievable and tangible measure of human wellbeing and progress." The report researches countries to determine which are the safest and which are the most dangerous.

A total of 163 countries are featured in the GPI report, which ranks each country's level of safety or danger based upon 23 different indicators. The indicators used to compile the GPI include the number of internal and external violent conflicts, level of distrust, political instability, potential for terrorist acts, number of homicides, and military expenditures as a percentage of GDP. These indicators are grouped into three broad categories—Ongoing International Conflict, Societal Safety and Security, and Militarization—and a score is calculated for each of the 163 nations featured in the report. The lower the score, the higher the nation is ranked in terms of safety.

Top 15 Safest Countries in the World (Global Peace Index — lower is better):

Country
GPI 2023
GPI 2022
Iceland1.1241.107
Denmark1.3101.296
Ireland1.3121.288
New Zealand1.3131.269
Austria1.3161.300
Singapore1.3321.326
Portugal1.3331.301
Slovenia1.3341.316
Japan1.3361.336
Switzerland1.3391.357
Canada1.3501.389
Czech Republic1.3791.318
Finland1.3991.439
Croatia1.4501.440
Germany1.4561.462
Netherlands1.4901.522
Bhutan1.4961.481
Hungary1.5081.411
Malaysia1.5131.471
Belgium1.5231.526

The United States ranked 129th in the Global Peace Ranking for 2022. The United States' ranking has fallen every year since 2016, a drop usually attributed to a decrease in life satisfaction, rising political division, and an increasing wealth gap.

Is the World Becoming More or Less Safe?

According to the 2022 GPI report, the world has become less safe over the past 14 years, with per-country scores deteriorating by 3.2% on average. The report further notes that safety and peacefulness have decreased for eleven of the past fourteen years. For example, global peace declined by 0.3% overall between the 2021 and 2022 GPI reports. While safety improved in 90 countries, it dropped in 71 countries (and remained stable in two), for a net loss.

The 2022 report also states that declines tend to happen more swiftly and precipitously than do improvements, and pointed out that the most significant deterioration occurred in countries in conflict, such as Russia, Ukraine, Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Haiti. Europe remained the most peaceful region in the world, a position it has held for all the 16 years in which the Global Peace Index has existed.

World peace also decreased between the 2020 and 2021 reports, though by a much smaller margin of 0.07%, with 87 countries improving and 73 deteriorating. The COVID-19 crisis and increasing tensions among major world powers were cited as two main causes for the decrease. A comparison of the 2020 and 2019 reports, to step back a year, reveals a total of 81 countries growing more peaceful and 80 deteriorating. The average country score deteriorated by 0.34%.

The Safest Continent in the World

A majority of the top 25 safest countries are European countries. Most notable are the Nordic countries of Europe. Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, and Finland are not only among Europe's safest countries, they are among the top 25 safest countries anywhere on Earth. This region is thus considered the safest in the world, with a homicide rate of 0.8 incidents per 100,000 inhabitants. These five Nordic countries are all in the top 10 happiest countries in the world as well. The second-safest region among the top 25 safest countries is Asia. Both Europe and Asia have the world’s lowest homicide rates of 3 or fewer per 100,000 inhabitants.

Qualities the World's Safest Countries Have in Common

There are some commonalities among the safest countries in the world. For instance, safe countries tend to display high levels of wealth, social welfare, and education. Additionally, safe countries typically have effective criminal justice systems and governments that maintain very healthy relationships with their citizens.

Profiles of the World's 10 Safest Countries

1. Iceland

According to the Global Peace Index, Iceland is the safest country in the world for the 14th year in a row. Iceland is a Nordic nation with a relatively small population of 340,000. 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 its well-trained police force, and a lack of tension among social and economic classes. Iceland has no military, and the police do not carry firearms (only extendable batons and pepper spray). Iceland also has laws in place to guarantee equality, such as legal same-sex marriage and same-sex adoptions, religious freedom, and equal pay for men and women.

2. New Zealand

New Zealand is the second-safest country in the world. Like Iceland, New Zealand has a very low crime rate, and violent crime is especially rare. Theft is still worth guarding against, especially in tourist areas (which holds true in every country in the world), but overall risk is minimal. Unlike its neighbor Australia, which is known for its dangerous wildlife (box jellyfish, taipan snakes, stonefish, funnel web spiders, and more), New Zealand has no deadly animals. New Zealanders are generally open-minded and have laws in place to prevent the violation of anyone's freedom of speech or expression. As in Iceland, police in New Zealand do not carry personal firearms.

3. Ireland

Ireland became notably more peaceful in 2021 and vaulted from 11th place to 3rd in the 2022 rankings as a result. Crime is quite low outside of a few city neighborhoods ( 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. 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

Ranked fourth on the 2022 Global Peace Index, Denmark is another one of the safest and happiest countries in the world. Denmark is one of the few countries where people report feeling safe at any time of day or night, even children. 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.

Corruption is rare in Danish business or politics, as honesty and trust are top priorities. While Denmark has a high personal income tax, it funds social programs that ensure all people receive services and perks that help them live comfortable lives. For example, everyone in Denmark has access to tuition-free higher education and healthcare with no additional fees to them, and the elderly are provided at-home care helpers.

5. Austria

Austria ranked as the fifth-safest country in the world for 2022. 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. Serious crimes are uncommon (with the usual caveat to watch for pickpockets and purse-snatchers). Additionally, Austria has been spared any major acts of terrorism in recent years.

6. Portugal

Portugal comes in sixth in the most peaceful countries rankings for 2022. In 2014, Portugal was ranked 18th globally and has since made significant strides. Unlike Iceland and New Zealand, Portugal has armed police; however, an increased police presence has resulted in a decreased crime rate in the country. In recent years, Portugal has experienced an economic resurgence, decreasing its unemployment rate from over 17% to under 7%. Portugal consistently ranks among the best countries for retirement, due in no small part to its high level of safety.

7. Slovenia

One of the former constituents of Yugoslavia, Slovenia has a high safety ranking that can be attributed to its excellent scores in three categories: travel security, medical risks, and road safety. Like many Slavic states, Slovenia installed a democratic government in the mid-1990s and is now focused on improving quality of life in many areas, including safety and sustainability.

8. Czech Republic

Crime rates in the Czech Republic have steadily decreased over the years, with rates of violent crime in particular dropping significantly. The Czech Republic also has a low incidence of terrorism and natural disasters. Finally, the country boasts many clean and efficient hospitals and a state-run health insurance system that offers affordable rates and enables near-universal coverage.

9. Singapore

Singapore ranks ninth on the GPI for 2022. In a Gallup report from 2018, Singapore residents felt the highest sense of personal security and had more positive experiences with law enforcement than did residents of any other country. Singapore has one of the lowest crime rates in the world, possibly due to the severe penalties that are issued for even small crimes. The government and police strictly control guns and other firearms, and violent and confrontational crimes are rare in Singapore.

As a city-state, Singapore also ranks as the second-safest city in the world according to the Safe Cities Index from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). In 2019, Singapore ranked first for infrastructure security and personal security, second for digital security, and eighth for health security.

10. Japan

The tenth-safest country in the world for 2022 is Japan. Japan has been in the top ten countries in the Global Peace Index for 14 years, consistently receiving high marks for low crime rates, minimal internal conflict, and virtually nonexistent political unrest. Japan's proximity to potentially hostile neighbors China and North Korea could become a threat to its safety at some point, but has not thus far.

Japan is known for citizens having limited access to firearms, as the Japanese do not view carrying a firearm as an individual's right. According to the Safe Cities Index from the Economist Intelligence Unit, Tokyo was the safest city in the world in 2019, ranking first in cybersecurity, second for health security, and fourth for infrastructure security and personal security.

Source

IEP applies a rigorous research process to arrive at its GPI rankings. According to IEP, “The GPI covers 163 countries comprising 99.7 percent of the world’s population, using 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from highly respected sources.”

Download Table Data

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Country
GPI 2023
GPI 2022
GPI 2021
Iceland1.1241.1071.100
Denmark1.3101.2961.256
Ireland1.3121.2881.326
New Zealand1.3131.2691.253
Austria1.3161.3001.317
Singapore1.3321.3261.347
Portugal1.3331.3011.267
Slovenia1.3341.3161.315
Japan1.3361.3361.373
Switzerland1.3391.3571.323
Canada1.3501.3891.330
Czech Republic1.3791.3181.329
Finland1.3991.4391.402
Croatia1.4501.4401.480
Germany1.4561.4621.480
Netherlands1.4901.5221.506
Bhutan1.4961.4811.510
Hungary1.5081.4111.494
Malaysia1.5131.4711.515
Belgium1.5231.5261.496
Qatar1.5241.5331.605
Australia1.5251.5651.470
Mauritius1.5461.5701.592
Norway1.5501.4651.438
Estonia1.5631.6621.612
Slovakia1.5781.4991.557
Latvia1.5821.6731.686
Sweden1.6251.5641.460
Poland1.6341.5521.524
Bulgaria1.6431.5411.577
Spain1.6491.6031.621
Taiwan1.6491.6181.662
Romania1.6491.6401.530
Italy1.6621.6431.652
Kuwait1.6691.7391.688
Lithuania1.6711.7241.689
United Kingdom1.6931.6671.658
North Macedonia1.7131.7041.744
Costa Rica1.7311.7321.735
Vietnam1.7451.7861.835
Albania1.7451.7611.824
Botswana1.7621.8011.753
South Korea1.7631.7791.877
Mongolia1.7651.7751.783
Montenegro1.7721.8011.847
Laos1.7791.8091.809
Sierra Leone1.7921.8031.813
Oman1.7941.8891.982
Timor Leste1.7961.8391.873
Uruguay1.7981.7951.817
Ghana1.7991.7591.715
Senegal1.8271.9161.864
Indonesia1.8291.8001.783
Argentina1.8371.9111.945
Madagascar1.8461.9951.963
Namibia1.8591.9081.927
Moldova1.8731.8821.909
Chile1.8741.8401.831
Gambia1.8881.7921.853
Greece1.8901.8381.932
Bosnia and Herzegovina1.8921.8501.970
Jordan1.8951.8491.916
Zambia1.8981.8411.964
Cyprus1.9041.9031.912
Serbia1.9211.8321.797
Armenia1.9291.9922.075
France1.9391.8951.868
Paraguay1.9421.9761.997
Panama1.9421.8761.919
Liberia1.9461.9731.998
Trinidad and Tobago1.9462.0052.029
Cambodia1.9471.8822.008
Malawi1.9701.8951.909
United Arab Emirates1.9791.8651.848
Kazakhstan1.9802.0711.936
Jamaica1.9861.9901.992
Bolivia2.0011.9892.140
Nepal2.0061.9472.033
China2.0092.0102.114
Tunisia2.0101.9962.108
Equatorial Guinea2.0131.8631.915
Dominican Republic2.0191.9902.024
Morocco2.0201.9692.015
Angola2.0201.9822.017
Uzbekistan2.0332.0012.062
Guinea Bissau2.0452.1562.113
Bangladesh2.0512.0672.068
Rwanda2.0511.9452.028
Ivory Coast2.0532.1442.123
Tanzania2.0582.0011.892
Thailand2.0612.0982.205
Gabon2.0681.9732.074
Georgia2.0712.0652.054
Azerbaijan2.0902.4372.334
Algeria2.0942.1462.310
Ecuador2.0951.9882.044
Papua New Guinea2.0952.0462.149
Cuba2.1032.0832.042
Turkmenistan2.1072.1162.154
Kyrgyzstan2.1102.0281.998
Tajikistan2.1142.0312.095
Peru2.1302.0912.034
Guatemala2.1302.1392.195
Togo2.1302.0942.239
Guyana2.1342.1402.114
Sri Lanka2.1362.0202.083
Bahrain2.1452.0852.121
Eswatini2.1682.0331.955
Benin2.1772.1252.093
Lesotho2.1912.0892.202
Djibouti2.1962.2132.146
Republic of the Congo2.2102.1842.291
Mauritania2.2282.1932.290
Philippines2.2292.3392.417
Belarus2.2482.2592.285
Kenya2.2542.3032.254
Mozambique2.2592.3162.123
Saudi Arabia2.2602.2882.376
Honduras2.2652.2692.371
Egypt2.2672.3422.397
El Salvador2.2792.2312.184
Nicaragua2.2942.3342.445
Uganda2.3002.3092.219
Zimbabwe2.3002.3502.490
India2.3142.5782.553
Guinea2.3592.3322.069
Burundi2.3932.4702.434
Haiti2.3952.2542.151
South Africa2.4052.2832.344
United States2.4482.4402.337
Brazil2.4622.4652.430
Eritrea2.5052.4942.555
Palestine2.5382.5522.610
Lebanon2.5812.6152.797
Mexico2.5992.6122.620
Libya2.6052.9303.166
Niger2.6252.6552.589
Cameroon2.6602.7092.700
Colombia2.6932.7292.694
Venezuela2.6932.7982.934
Chad2.6992.5912.489
Israel2.7062.5762.669
Nigeria2.7132.7252.712
Myanmar2.7412.6312.457
Pakistan2.7452.7892.868
Iran2.8002.6872.637
Turkey2.8002.7852.843
North Korea2.8482.9422.923
Burkina Faso2.8682.7862.527
Ethiopia2.8722.8062.613
Central African Republic2.9343.0213.131
Mali2.9632.9112.813
Iraq3.0063.1573.257
Sudan3.0233.0072.936
Somalia3.0363.1253.211
Ukraine3.0432.9712.660
Russia3.1423.2752.993
DR Congo3.2143.1663.196
South Sudan3.2213.1843.363
Syria3.2943.3563.371
Yemen3.3503.3943.407
Afghanistan3.4483.5543.631
Total2.0722.0702.081
showing: 162 rows

What is the safest country in the world?

Iceland is the safest country in the world, with a 2022 Global Peace Index of 1.107.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources