Travellers can feel safe in these countries: Europe has seven countries in the top ten.
When we travel, we want to feel safe. That’s why choosing a safe destination is a priority when planning the next trip.
There are several ways to find safe countries. The Global Peace Index, compiled annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace, is best suited for this purpose. It uses 23 qualitative and quantitative factors from different sources, including the level of societal safety and security, the extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict, and the degree of militarisation. The lower the value, the more peaceful the country and the safer it is for travellers.
The latest Peace Index shows that 90 countries improved their score compared to 2021; 71 got worse. The threat of terrorism – an essential factor for travellers – has recently decreased: 70 countries worldwide recorded no attacks in 2021, which is the best value since 2008.
Here are the most peaceful countries, which can generally be considered especially safe for tourists:
Country Score GPI 2022
Iceland 1.107
New Zealand 1.269
Ireland 1.288
Denmark 1.296
Austria 1.3
Portugal 1.301
Slovenia 1.316
Czech Republic 1.318
Singapore 1.326
Japan 1.336
At the lower end of the scale are those countries that are far less suitable for tourists. Afghanistan is at the bottom of the ranking, with Yemen and Syria hardly any better, as expected.
