The world's safest and most dangerous countries in 2023 revealed (2024)

The ranking is by produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace
The list is presented in the institute's annual Global Peace Index
Scroll down for the full list...
READ MORE: The best 100 cities on the planet ranked - and London is No.1

By Ted Thornhill, Mailonline Travel Editor

Published: 15:49, 22 November 2023 | Updated: 18:34, 22 November 2023

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The UK has been declared the 37th safest country in the world in 2023 in an annual study that ranks 163 independent states and territories according to their level of peacefulness.

The study - called the Global Peace Index and produced by the Institute for Economics and Peace - covers 99.7 per cent of the population and measures 'societal safety and security, domestic and international conflict and the degree of militarisation'.

The report concludes that Iceland is the safest country overall - though its publication preceded the current volcanic activity - followed by Denmark (second), Ireland (third) and New Zealand (fourth).

America ranks 131st yet again, just behind South Africa (130th) and Haiti (129th).

Afghanistan (163rd) is deemed the least peaceful country in the world for the eighth consecutive year, followed by Yemen (162nd), Syria (161st), South Sudan (160th) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (159th).

The UK has been declared the 37th safest country in the world in 2023

Europe is the most peaceful region in the world, according to the study, and is home to seven of the ten most peaceful countries

The report says: 'There are only two countries in the North American region, with Canada [11th] recording a 2.9 per cent increase in peacefulness'

The report authors say: 'The war in Ukraine had a significant impact on global peacefulness, with Ukraine and Russia having the largest and fifth largest deteriorations in peacefulness respectively. Haiti, Mali, and Israel were the other countries with the largest deteriorations [note that the study also preceded the current conflict in Israel].'

Europe is the most peaceful region in the world, according to the study, and is home to seven of the ten most peaceful countries.

The other three most peaceful countries are in the AsiaPacific region. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remained the world's least peaceful region, the report concludes. It is home to four of the ten least peaceful countries.

The report concludes that Iceland is the safest country overall - though its publication preceded the current volcanic activity

Afghanistan (163rd) is deemed the least peaceful country in the world for the eighth consecutive year

IMPACT OF WAR IN UKRAINE

The economic impact of violence has increased by 479% or $449billion, equivalent to 64% of Ukraine’s GDP.

65% of men in Ukraine aged 20 to 24 years have fled the country, or died in the conflict.

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The report continues: 'There are only two countries in the North American region, with Canada [11th] recording a 2.9 per cent increase in peacefulness, and the U.S experiencing a slight fall in peacefulness, with its overall score deteriorating by 0.38 per cent.

'There is a considerable disparity in peacefulness between the two countries.'

Why? The report reveals that one reason is a feeling of safety in Canada, stating: 'Less than 20 per cent of Canadians report that they do not feel safe walking alone at night in their city or neighbourhood.'

One reason for America's lowly ranking is the murder rate, with the report stating: 'The United States recorded the fourth largest overall increase in its homicide rate, which is now above six per 100,000 people and more than six times higher than most Western European countries.'

THE WORLD'S SAFEST AND MOST DANGEROUS COUNTRIES IN 2023

1 Iceland*

2 Denmark

3 Ireland

4 New Zealand

5 Austria

6 Singapore

7 Portugal

8 Slovenia

9 Japan

10 Switzerland

FAQs

Which country is the safest in the world 2023? ›

Which country has ranked the safest place in the world in the Global Peace Index 2023? According to the GPI, Iceland is the safest place in the world, ranking 1st with a score of 1,107. Many people use the Global Peace Index in defining the best country to live in.

Read On ›

What is the most dangerous countries in the world 2023? ›

Russia and Ukraine saw significant increases in danger from 2021 to 2023, primarily due to their ongoing military conflict initiated by Russia's invasion. Afghanistan remains the most dangerous country in 2023, despite a significant decrease in conflict-related deaths from nearly 43,000 to just over 4,000.

Discover More Details ›

What is the #1 most dangerous country in the world? ›

1) Afghanistan

Afghanistan is among the world's most hazardous nations, with a 2024 Global Peace Index (GPI) score of 3.448. This war-torn country has been at the center of international insecurity for more than 40 years due to ongoing violence.

Where does the US rank in safest countries? ›

Among the top 7 most populous nations accounting for over half of the world's population and approximately half of the total GDP of the world, Indonesia ranks 48th overall on the Global Peace Index, China 88th, India 116th, Brazil 131st, the United States 132nd, Pakistan 140th and Nigeria 147th.

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How safe is the USA? ›

Although the USA is generally safe, some cities are considered to be more dangerous than others, with some areas that you should avoid. Detroit, St Louis, Chicago, Baltimore and Memphis all have some very dangerous neighbourhoods that should be avoided, but the city centres and tourist areas are generally safe.

Find Out More ›

What is the 1 safest country in the world? ›

Iceland is the safest country in the world, according to the latest Global Peace Index (GPI) ranking of 2023. The measurements target societal safety and security, domestic and international conflict, and militarization through 23 specific indicators.

Tell Me More ›

Which country has the most murders in 2023? ›

Saint Kitts and Nevis saw a murder rate of 65 per 100,000 inhabitants, making it the most dangerous country for this kind of crime worldwide as of 2023. Interestingly, El Salvador, who long had the highest global homicide rates, has dropped out of the top 20 after a high number of gang members have been incarcerated.

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Where is it not safe to travel? ›

Learn about your destination

Advisory	Level	Date Updated
Iran Travel Advisory	Level 4: Do Not Travel	August 14, 2024
Iraq Travel Advisory	Level 4: Do Not Travel	April 24, 2024
Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Travel Advisory	Other	July 31, 2024
Italy Travel Advisory	Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution	September 12, 2024

145 more rows

Explore More ›

What is the riskiest country to live in? ›

Philippines is 'world's riskiest country' for 3rd straight year | ABS-CBN News.

What is the safest place in the world? ›

Iceland tops the Global Peace Index for 2023 (and has since the list's inception in 2009!), followed by Denmark, Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, Singapore, Portugal, Slovenia, Japan and Switzerland.

Show Me More ›

Which country is the most safer? ›

Iceland maintains its top ranking as the world's safest country for an unprecedented 14th consecutive year according to the GPI.

Read The Full Story ›

Is the US safer than Europe? ›

Europe has about a 5 times lower intentional homicide rate, better traffic safety and a higher life expectancy. You're also “safe” to get sick without getting astronomical bills in Europe. Drug overdoses are very rare compared to the US.

See Details ›

What is safest place in USA? ›

WalletHub released a 2023 report listing the safest cities in the US. Cities were ranked based on 41 indicators of safety, including rates of crime and natural disasters. Nashua, New Hampshire, scored the highest, followed by Columbia, Maryland.

Get More Info Here ›

Is Texas a safe place to live? ›

Texas cities overall don't have a higher violent crime rate than the state average for California and Alaska, but the Lone Star state's violent crime rate of 432 per 100,000 residents annually is higher than the national average of 381 per 100,000 people.

Which country is best to live in 2023? ›

Switzerland. Switzerland looks to be the best country to live in 2023. It was the highest-ranking country on the latest HDI report, with a score of 0.962.

What country is high risk 2023? ›

Negara-negara berikut telah ditinjau kemajuannya oleh FATF sejak Februari 2023: Albania, Barbados, Burkina Faso, Cayman Island, Republik Demokratik Kongo, Gibraltar, Jamaika, Yordania, Mali, Mozambique , Panama, Filipina, Senegal, Afrika Selatan, Sudan Selatan, Turki, Uni Emirat Arab, dan Uganda.

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Is America safe in 2023? ›

Most violent offenses remained elevated in 2023 compared to 2019, the year prior to the outbreak of COVID and the widespread social unrest of 2020. There were 18% more homicides in the study cities in 2023 than in 2019, and carjacking has spiked by 93% during that period.

What is the freest country in the world 2023? ›

At the forefront of global freedom stands Switzerland, a haven of liberty in Europe. Nestled amid the majestic Alps and serene lakes, this diminutive nation champions freedom like no other.

Learn More ›