"To travel is to live," the famous Danish storyteller Hans Christian Andersen once said. Those who have already had a chance to appreciate all the charm of distant wanderings and unexpected discoveries are unlikely to argue with this statement. Well, the one who is only planning an exciting encounter with the unknown and unexplored in different parts of the world, probably expects to get only positive emotions. For this it is necessary that the trip was safe - in all senses of the word. Agree, coming to any country, the last thing you want is to find yourself in the middle of an armed conflict, catch an exotic disease, or lose all your savings in favor of the local pickpockets. To avoid this, you should carefully study the authoritative ratings of the safest countries in the world. We suggest you do it right now, and then start packing your bags!
Global Peace Index: The World’s 10 Safest Countries
Global Peace Index is an annual ranking of the safest countries, which is conducted by the Institute of Economics and Peace (Australia).
To compile it, experts assess the situation in 172 independent states and territories.
For “rendering a verdict” and assigning a country a particular position, 23 different indicators are used, which are grouped into categories. Among them – political instability, the possibility of terrorist acts, the number of murders, the level of social protection.
Below you will find the ten safest countries in the world from the Global Peace ranking – the lower the index, the more favorable the situation in the region.
Iceland (1,072)
The “Land of Ice” firmly holds the lead in this list for the twelfth year in a row and attracts tourists with absolutely extraordinary flora and fauna. The state, consisting of the island of the same name, with an area of more than 100 thousand km² and small nearby islets, is home to more than 350 thousand people. Here at any time of day and night you can safely walk down the street – nothing and no one is afraid of anything. Iceland is called a country where man lives in perfect harmony with nature. This territory is characterized by a high level of development, attracting investments and migrants from neighboring countries.
New Zealand (1,221)
The state of Polynesia, with a population of over 4 million people, is traditionally famous for its beautiful beaches, steep hills and fjords. Also interesting is the natural world of New Zealand, which is characterized by a large number of endemic plants and birds. Here live law-abiding, well-to-do, citizens, there are no terrorist threats, and serious crime is considered nonsense. The peace-loving country prefers to observe neutrality and does not get involved in interstate conflicts.
Portugal (1,274)
This state, located in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula, fascinates tourists with its natural beauty and historical sights. Forests, valleys, waterfalls are all very beautiful indeed. Safety in Portugal is at a high level, the political situation is stable. Occasionally there may be petty thefts in the streets, but they are associated mainly with migrants, not locals.
Austria (1,291)
A large state in Central Europe with a population of about 9 million people. Despite this size, there is mostly peace and order. The capital of the country is Vienna. Seeing its dizzying architectural monuments is a dream for any traveler. Austria has a low crime rate – the best indicator among European countries, which each year decreases by 1-1.5%.
Denmark (1,316)
The Kingdom of Denmark regularly appears in the rankings of the happiest countries in the world. It also ranks first in terms of foreign trade turnover per capita. About 6 million people live here in safety, prosperity and comfort. In Denmark there are a lot of architectural monuments, dating back to both the Viking Age and the Middle Ages. It is in these places that the action of Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet” takes place – the castles of Hillerød and Helsingøre.
Canada (1,372)
The safest country in North America, with the second largest area in the world (after Russia). The beauties of Canada can be admired endlessly. Here, in Alberta province, there is famous Banff National Park and glacial Lake Louise. And then there are the Appalachian Mountains and the Rocky Mountain Range, the splendor of which attracts tourists from all over the world.