The Safest Countries in the World

How does the Global Peace Index evaluate the safest countries in the world?

The GPI evaluates countries across three primary dimensions: societal safety and security, ongoing domestic and international conflicts, and the degree of militarization. Comprising 23 indicators assessing the absence of violence or its perception, these indicators were selected with expert input in 2007 and undergo yearly review. Each indicator is rated from 1 to 5, with qualitative indicators grouped and quantitative ones scored to three decimal places.

Due to its robust methodological framework, the IEP asserts that the GPI commands a level of trust similar to the Human Development Index (HDI), introduced by the United Nations Development Program in 1990. A significant addition in the 2024 report methodology is the inclusion of a new measure of global military capability, which consolidates military sophistication, technology, and battle readiness into a unified metric.

To assess societal safety and security, the GPI considers indicators such as perceived levels of criminality, political stability, homicide rates per 100,000 people, and levels of violent crime, among others.

In evaluating ongoing domestic and international conflicts, the report examines indicators including the number and duration of internal conflicts, intensity of organized internal conflicts, and fatalities from internal organized conflicts, alongside other relevant external-oriented factors.

For the degree of militarization, indicators reviewed include military expenditure as a percentage of GDP, and the volume of transfers of major conventional weapons as exports per 100,000 people, among others. Recognizing the increasing importance of militarization, the IEP has introduced a new methodology in 2024 to delve deeper into military capability. This approach incorporates assessments of military sophistication, technological advancement, and the inventory of heavy weapons. Detailed insights into this new methodology are explored further in the trends section of the report.

What are the Top 10 safest countries in the world?

In 2024, Europe remained the most peaceful region in the world, leading the ranking with 3 countries. The continent has undisputedly held the title since the Global Peace Index’s inception in 2008, always ranking in with at least 6 countries and a maximum of 8. The latest report proved no different, as 7 European countries made the Top 10 safest countries in the world. Check the list below:

The Global Peace Index's top 10 safest countries have had only minor changes over its 17-year history, consistently showing Europe as the safest continent despite conflicts in nearby regions. Outside of Europe, only three countries have regularly made the list. New Zealand is the only Oceanic country to have been in the top 10 every year since the Index started. The only other time an Oceanic country appeared was in 2015 when Australia ranked ninth. 

Malaysia is now in the top 10, while Japan, which was a regular in the top 10 for 15 out of 17 years, dropped to 17th place in 2024. This is Japan’s biggest drop since the GPI began, with declines in all Militarization indicators. On the other hand, Singapore is rising, appearing in the top 10 five times in the last six years, only missing out in 2021. 

Canada is the only North American country in the top 10, currently holding the 11th spot. In 2024, the United States ranked 132nd and Mexico 138th, both dropping from previous years. 

European countries have dominated the top 10, with the same set of countries appearing in slightly different positions over the years. This solidifies Europe as the safest continent. 

The GPI report is intriguing and explains in a straightforward way the main question everyone had: "What is the safest country in the world?". Holding the position since 2011, Iceland remains the safest country in the world. Austria and Denmark have always been in the top 10. Portugal has appeared 10 times out of 17, while Czechia, Ireland, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Norway have each been in the top 10 nine times. It's also important to note that 35 out of the 36 European countries ranked by the Global Peace Index are in the upper half of the 163 territories analyzed.

Why is Europe the safest region in the world? 

It is important to acknowledge that the world is becoming more unsafe every day. According to the 2024 Global Peace Index, the average level of country peacefulness deteriorated by 0.56 percent. This marks the fifth consecutive year of declining global peacefulness. Published in June 2024, the report highlights the conflict in Gaza and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine as the primary drivers of this decline, together with the increase in militarization expenses among with countries.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region ranked as the least safe in the world, with four of the ten least peaceful countries located there. The Asia-Pacific region saw minor improvements in overall safety levels for 2023, mainly due to reduced militarization. As expected, New Zealand leads the region in peacefulness, while North Korea ranks last.

In comparison to previous years, the countries in Central America recorded very large reductions in the number of homicides, though the region still had the highest average homicide rate of any region.

Caribbean region countries where Citizenship by Investment programs, like Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia remain the region’s safest havens, despite not featuring in the Global Peace Index.

Generally, the world is experiencing worsened levels of security and peacefulness across all regions. There are no 100% risk-free locations where to live. Even so, amid the growing uncertainties, Europe is by far the safest and most stable continent in the world.

How to Live in Europe: Investment Immigration Solutions 

While the Global Peace Index is a useful tool to consider, it is not the be-all and end-all. However, it does paint a clear picture of everyday reality: Europe is the safest region of the world and living in any of its 35 countries represents a better, more secure life. A life where a person does not have to consistently worry about their surroundings or look over their shoulder. A life where it is possible to have a safe, conducive environment for the entire family, or where to best enjoy retirement and the golden years. 

How, then, to move to Europe and live in one of its countries? The solution is found in investment immigration programs, which usually come in two formats: Residency by Investment or Citizenship by Investment. In Europe, Residency by Investment is far more common, largely in part because of Golden Visa programs. On the other hand, Citizenship by Investment programs are more prevalent in the Caribbean. 

The best European Golden Visa is currently found in Greece and in Portugal. It currently offers an official and government-recognized path to Residency status through a direct investment in the country’s Real Estate market. Purchasing property in the minimum amount of €250,000 in most areas of the country is sufficient grounds to qualify and earn Residency.

Even though Greece does not feature in the Top 10 of the safest countries, it does not mean the country is by any means unsafe. Its status as a European Union country cannot be overstated, as the bloc holds high standards and demands certain criteria to be upheld across levels of public safety and peacefulness. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of State classifies Greece as Level One, recommending only normal precautions to be exercised when visiting the country. 

Portugal, also an EU country, offers one of the best Residency by Investment programs with its Portuguese D2 Visa and the Golden Visa through investment Funds. The D2 Visa program requires opening a new or branching out an existing business in Portugal. With a one-time investment, Residency is achievable in 3 months, and Citizenship in 5 years, the fastest of any EU country. 

Portugal is not only one of Europe’s safest countries but also of the world, ranking 7 at the GPI. Many factors play a key role in this. For instance, there is a healthy relationship between the police forces and the local population, which starts from an early age, and results in an overall better combat against criminal occurrences. Since tourism is one of the country’s main economic drivers, Portugal also places further importance in creating and fostering a secure environment for locals, residents, and expats alike. The main criminal occurrences are petty property theft and domestic violence, though violent crime continues to decline every year.

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It is important to bear in mind both Portugal and Greece are among the world’s most powerful passports in 2024, a common recurrence in European countries. Incidentally, both countries also enable their Citizens to hold another passport and be Dual Citizens, also frequently practiced in the Eastern Caribbean countries and some other European Union members. Endeavoring through either the Portugal D2 Visa or the Greece Golden Visa is embarking on the path to holding a European Union passport, one of the world’s best destinations for retirement, and the safest place to create a Plan B safe haven.  

Choosing the right investment immigration program can be a challenging task. But it does not have to be. Not with Investment Visa on your side. With a team of industry veterans holding more than 25 years of experience, knowing every detail and step of investment immigration programs from all over the world, Investment Visa advisors have successfully guided hundreds of investors to second residency and citizenship in Europe.  

Whether it is a brand-new property in Greece or through specifically curated D2 Visa investment options, Investment Visa has solutions for all types of investors and expats. Contact Investment Visa today, get the best advice on the market and start your journey toward a brighter future.