Top 10 Safest Countries in the World

Introduction — A Place Where You Can Return Home Safely at Night

Safety is not just a cold statistic; it is the feeling of being able to smile while paying at a corner café, not having to worry about children playing in the park, and returning home safely at night. In 2025, the world is experiencing the aftermath of turmoil and the pressure of emerging conflicts, but there are still some countries that, thanks to robust social structures, low crime rates, and mature governance, allow both residents and visitors to feel a sense of calm. This article uses the Global Peace Index 2025 (IEP) as the primary data source, combined with other media and indicators, to show you—which countries rank in the top ten “safest,” and the real reasons behind it, along with those gentle details you won’t find in travel guides.

How I Judged “Safety”

Primary data source: Institute for Economics & Peace — Global Peace Index 2025 (GPI). The GPI breaks down “peace/safety” into multidimensional indicators (23 sub-items including societal safety and security, ongoing conflict, militarization, etc.), each with clear weights and explanations. It is currently the most widely referenced composite indicator for global “safety/peace”.

Vision of Humanity Visualization Processing: The original GPI score is lower indicating more peace. I exported the original GPI scores of the Top 10 and created a “Safety Index (0-100)” for intuitive comparison by page readers (formula: linearly reverse normalization of GPI within the Top 10, where 0 is the least safe and 100 is the safest—for display and comparison only, without changing the official GPI ranking).

Supplementary Information Sources: WorldPopulationReview, Travel + Leisure, CN Traveler, etc. (used to corroborate: tourist experiences, sense of safety at night, records of emergencies, and media reports). See the data sources section at the end.

At a Glance — Top 10 (GPI 2025 Original Ranking and Visualization Score)

Figure: Top 10 Safest Countries (GPI 2025)

Rank	Country	GPI Original Score (lower is safer)	Safety Index (0-100)
1	🇮🇸 Iceland	1.095	100.00
2	🇮🇪 Ireland	1.260	67.32
3	🇳🇿 New Zealand	1.282	60.54
4	🇦🇹 Austria	1.294	56.76
5	🇨🇭 Switzerland	1.294	56.76
6	🇸🇬 Singapore	1.357	27.03
7	🇵🇹 Portugal	1.371	21.62
8	🇩🇰 Denmark	1.393	13.51
9	🇸🇮 Slovenia	1.409	8.11
10	🇫🇮 Finland	1.420	4.05

Data note: GPI original scores are from Global Peace Index 2025 (Institute for Economics & Peace). The Safety Index is a linearly reverse normalized value for visualization in this article (for comparative convenience only).

In-Depth Analysis: Why These Countries Rank at the Top?

🇮🇸 Iceland — The World’s Safest “Small Community”

Iceland has topped the GPI for many consecutive years. Why is it so safe? The answer is hidden in its scale, social trust, and systems: a small population, tight-knit communities, good social welfare and education, combined with extremely low rates of violence and gun crime. For travelers, strangers on the street feel more like neighbors; for residents, social trust lubricates public life.

Data point: GPI 1.095; performs nearly optimally in societal safety and conflict subdomains.

Travel tip: Night hiking and solo driving are relatively safe; the main risks are natural (weather, volcanoes, landslides) rather than human.

🇮🇪 Ireland — A Sense of Safety in Both Urban and Rural Areas

Ireland’s safety is no accident: stable politics, low levels of organized crime, and efficient policing systems combine to create relative peace in cities and countryside. Recent social reforms and improvements in public services have also enhanced social resilience.

Data point: GPI 1.260; excels in indicators for societal security, terrorism, and ongoing conflict.

Travel tip: Routine safety is good at night in major cities (like Dublin), but beware of pickpockets and scams in tourist hotspots.

🇳🇿 New Zealand — A Green Island Away from Conflict

For many, New Zealand is not just about scenery but also synonymous with safety. Political stability, strong community services, and low internal conflict indices make it ideal for families and long-term living.

Data point: GPI 1.282; strong performance in the Safety & Security subdomain.

Travel tip: Natural disasters (earthquakes, storms) are common risks; checking weather and advisories before travel is important.

🇦🇹 Austria — Robust Order in Central Europe

Austria has long been known for good public order: low violent crime rates, a strong social security system, and high quality of life collectively build a sense of safety. Public transport and nighttime activities in cities are relatively safe.

🇨🇭 Switzerland — Low-Risk Living with High Income

Switzerland excels in public safety, law enforcement, and personal property protection. High living costs are exchanged for high-quality public services and low crime rates. For tourists and immigrants, Switzerland’s predictability equals safety.

🇸🇬 Singapore — The Beauty of Order in a City-State

Singapore is famous for strict laws and efficient governance, with clean streets, good security, and strict traffic rules. Some freedom-restricting policies are traded for public safety; for most residents and visitors, this trade-off is worth it.

🇵🇹 Portugal — Europe’s “Gentle” Place

Portugal has shown stable safety performance in recent years, with low violent crime and community mutual aid making it a top choice for expats and retirees (except for some pickpocketing in urban centers).

🇩🇰 Denmark — The Advantage of Nordic Social Structure

Denmark’s high social trust and extensive welfare coverage reduce social tension and crime rates; even when problems occur, the public system’s rapid response is key to safety.

🇸🇮 Slovenia — Big Safety in a Small Country

Slovenia, with its social stability, low crime, and nature-close lifestyle, is a “less-crowded gem” in Europe. It maintains good order even during peak tourist seasons.

🇫🇮 Finland — Happiness and Safety Go Hand in Hand

Finland is known for high social welfare, low corruption, and high trust. These “soft powers” manifest as a resilient social support network during sudden social events.

Risk Reminder: Safety ≠ No Risk

“Safety” does not mean “zero risk.” For travelers and migrants, also consider:

• Natural disasters (Icelandic volcanoes, New Zealand earthquakes, extreme winter climates in Nordic countries)

• Petty urban crimes (pickpocketing, credit card fraud) still occur in tourist hotspots

• Policy/social changes (immigration/refugee flows, economic pressures) may alter short-term safety landscapes

Charts and Data Download

• CSV (original table + Safety Index): Download top10_safest_countries_gpi2025.csv

• Bar chart (page image): top10_safest_countries_bar.png

• Radar chart (schematic): top10_safest_countries_radar.png

2030 Small Prediction: The Next Game of Safety

Looking ahead to 2030, “safety” will continue to be determined by:

• Climate and natural disaster management: Adaptation and mitigation capabilities will become new dimensions of safety.

• Digital governance and information security: Cyberattacks and misinformation may weaken social trust.

• Social resilience: Community inclusivity and welfare sustainability will affect crime and protest frequencies.

This means some currently “medium” safety countries (if they accelerate in mitigation and digital governance) could enter future “safest” lists.

FAQ (Selected)

Q: Why is GPI more reliable than just looking at “crime rate”?

A: GPI integrates 23 indicators including violent crime, terrorism impact, militarization, and ongoing conflict, covering both internal safety and external conflicts, providing a more comprehensive measure of a country’s “peace/safety” status.

Q: For long-term relocation, is GPI enough?

A: No. GPI tells you “overall peace/safety,” but relocation should also consider healthcare accessibility, visa policies, taxes, cost of living, and language. Combining GPI with these dimensions is a prudent approach.

Data Sources and Acknowledgments

• Global Peace Index 2025 — Institute for Economics & Peace (primary data, rankings, and GPI scores). • WorldPopulationReview — Safest countries (for cross-verification and media context).

• Travel + Leisure / Condé Nast / CN Traveler (for safety experiences from a traveler’s perspective).

• Other references: Government announcements, UN and World Bank open data (for supplementary explanations and background facts).