Safest Countries to Live in the World 2026

When deciding on which country will be your new home, safety is a major consideration. Countries such as Iceland, Ireland, Denmark, and Austria frequently take the top spots for most peaceful countries, but the country which is right for you will depend on a range of factors.

Numerous variables go into deciding how safe a country is, such as levels of violent crime, whether there are effective criminal justice systems in place, levels of political instability, levels of ongoing international conflict, and incarceration rate. When deciding which country is the best fit for your own move overseas, you must first identify the factors that are most important to you.

Overall, many countries offer safe and stable living environments, although safety levels can vary significantly even within the same country. Before making a final decision on your next relocation destination, consider a wide range of factors in addition to its safety level, such as economic opportunities, lifestyle, cultural fit, climate, etc.

Page Contents

• Overview
• What Are the World’s Safest Countries?
• Qualities of the World’s Safest Countries
• Ireland
• Canada
• Iceland
• Austria
• New Zealand
• Singapore
• Switzerland
• Portugal
• Denmark
• Malaysia
• What are the Least Safe Countries in the World?
• Factors Considered in Safety Rankings
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

According to the Global Peace Index 2026, the 15 safest countries in the world are as follows:

1. Iceland
2. New Zealand
3. Switzerland
4. Slovenia
5. Ireland
6. Austria
7. Portugal
8. Singapore
9. Finland
10. Japan
11. Denmark
12. Malaysia
13. Czechia
14. Canada
15. Hungary

The US News Safety Index, which includes data on homicide rate and terrorism, has a different ranking:

1. Singapore
2. Oman
3. Japan
4. Qatar
5. Vietnam
6. Hungary
7. South Korea
8. New Zealand
9. Luxembourg
10. Italy
11. Czechia
12. China
13. Switzerland
14. Germany
15. Slovenia

There are a number of interesting differences between the two indices. Moreover, if you compare the 2026 indices with their respective 2025 versions, you will notice a prominent shift in certain country rankings as well as new countries emerging as top contenders for safety.

Overall, the two indices act as a reminder that numerous factors go into measuring safety. Countries which score well according to one metric may not do so according to another. In general, though, countries like Austria, Ireland, Iceland, Switzerland and New Zealand score consistently well.

There are numerous qualities which contribute to a country’s safety levels. The Global Peace Index, which is used throughout this article, takes into account a number of variables across the following 3 categories: societal safety and security, the extent of ongoing domestic and international conflict, and the degree of militarization.

The individual variables measured by the Global Peace Index are as follows:

• External conflicts and number of deaths resulting from them
• Internal conflicts, their intensity levels, and number of deaths resulting from them
• Military expenditure
• Weapons imports and exports
• Violent crime rate
• Neighboring country relations
• United Nations peacekeeping funding
• Refugees and internally displaced persons
• Terrorism impact
• Incarceration rate
• Access to small arms
• Political instability
• Nuclear and heavy weapons
• Policing
• Homicide rate
• Armed services personnel rate
• Political terror scale
• Violent demonstrations
• Perceptions of criminality

The Global Peace Index therefore gives us insight into the world’s safest countries according to the above safety criteria. However, when deciding whether or not to move to a new location, some of these factors will likely be more important than others in making your final decision, such as homicide rate, violent crime, terrorism impact, political instability, and violent demonstrations. You should identify the variables which are most important to you.

It is important to note that, as this index takes into account so many safety factors, even countries with comparatively low scores may still broadly offer a safe living environment. When making your final decision on your relocation destination, pay attention to the specific factors which are important to your own sense of safety, such as absence of violent demonstrations and violent crime.

On the other hand, the US News Safety Index is based on survey data collected from respondents from around the world. Perception of safety is a very important quality for a country, as it suggests that those who have visited or lived in it found it to be safe during their time there.

Overall, it is important to take into account a number of factors when researching the safety of a particular country. A country which performs well according to one set of measurement criteria may perform poorly according to another.

Let’s now explore some of the world’s most peaceful countries in more detail.

Ireland holds the 5th place on the Global Peace Index, making it one of the safest countries in this list. Ireland has historically remained neutral in global conflict situations. Military neutrality forms the core of Ireland’s foreign policy.

In addition, the country has a low crime rate. Ireland’s strong democratic institutions, a highly acclaimed educational system, and a robust healthcare infrastructure that is a mix of both public and private options are important ‘pull’ factors for immigrants worldwide. Ireland’s liberal regime and accommodating society offer a safe place for vulnerable groups, such as women and the LGBTQ+ communities.

Apart from the high safety levels, the country offers a wide range of benefits to its residents, including high-quality healthcare and education, generous parental leave, and numerous professional opportunities. It is also a European Union country, ensuring strong international connections and ease of movement to other countries within the EU.

Overall, Ireland is a good choice for those looking for a safe and politically stable environment, a strong and knowledge-based economy, a blend of rural and city locations, and a strong cultural experience.

Canada holds 14th place in the Global Peace Index. Located in North America, the country boasts of numerous appealing features for immigrants.

From low crime rates, world-famous universities, to a strong economy, it is an excellent location in which to start your new chapter. Canada is one of the safest countries for gender minorities. It’s also one of the world’s leading countries when it comes to easy access to affordable and quality healthcare. The country also offers easy travel access to the US.

Overall, Canada is a good fit for those looking for a cooler climate, beautiful nature, and a North American location.

Iceland scores 1st place in the Global Peace Index 2026, holding the top position for the 19th consecutive year. It has even recorded an improvement in peacefulness of 2% over 2025.

Iceland offers extremely low crime rates, a strong sense of community, a high quality of life, and low pollution levels. A stable democratic government, robust public institutions invoking strong societal trust, and a high-standard public healthcare system are the other major factors that increase its appeal to potential immigrants. However, keep in mind that Iceland can also be very expensive.

Overall, Iceland is a good fit for those looking for high safety levels, a close-knit community feel, and numerous areas of outstanding natural beauty. For those looking to relocate to a more budget-friendly destination, however, it may not be the first choice.

Austria bags 6th place in the Global Peace Index. The country offers numerous benefits to its residents, including low crime rates, excellent public transport, a good work life balance, and low pollution levels. It is also located within the EU, ensuring strong international ties.

Its stable political environment, low levels of internal and external conflicts, and a growing IT sector make it one of the favoured destinations for expats from across the world. Overall, Austria is a good fit for those seeking a rich cultural experience, natural beauty, and high-quality healthcare and education.

New Zealand holds 2nd place in the Global Peace Index and 8th place in the US News Safety Index, suggesting that it has established itself firmly as a safe destination for people notwithstanding different natures of the measurement criteria.

New Zealand is renowned for its stunning natural beauty. The country’s remarkably low crime rate (including cybercrimes) and robust healthcare system have further increased its appeal among the potential immigrants, notwithstanding the recent affordable housing shortage.

It has both a strong anti-discrimination legal framework in place to protect the interest of the gender minorities, and an open and inclusive society. New Zealand also offers comparatively low pollution levels, a strong culture of outdoor activity, and easy travel access to destinations like Australia and Bali.

Overall, New Zealand is a good choice if you value an outdoor lifestyle, easy access to nature, and high levels of social trust. However, if you wish to maintain close travel connections to your country of origin, moving to New Zealand may be an expensive choice depending on where you currently live. Research travel costs and duration before making your final decision.

Singapore tops the US News Safety Index while bagging the 8th spot in the Global Peace Index.

Its low crime rate thanks to a very strict law enforcement system, robust infrastructure, and a thriving economic environment make Singapore one of the most favourable places for skilled migrants and business founders and investors. The country is also known for its high quality of life, advanced technology, and numerous green spaces, making it a strong choice for those looking for a safe and healthy lifestyle.

However, an acute affordable housing shortage and an expensive healthcare system are some of the notable challenges for its residents. Tally your income against Singapore’s cost of living index if you are looking to move to a more budget-friendly destination.

Switzerland holds 3rd place in the Global Peace Index and 13th place in the US News Safety Index. Its policy of neutrality and non-involvement in other countries’ armed conflict makes it one of the safest and most peaceful places in the world to live in.

Boasting low crime rates, a stable political environment, stunning mountain landscapes, and world-renowned cuisine, Switzerland offers numerous benefits to its residents.

However, it is also amongst the most expensive countries included in this list, meaning it may not be the best choice for those wanting to relocate on a budget.

Portugal ranks 7th in the Global Peace Index. It boasts of low major crime rates, stable political environment, LGBTQ+ friendliness, a rich culture, and high levels of affordability compared to many of the other locations in this list. It also offers a warm climate for much of the year. However, petty crimes such as pickpocketing or bag-snatching are quite common, especially in major tourist places.

Overall, Portugal is a good fit for those looking for a more affordable European option which still offers high safety levels and a rich culture.

Denmark ranks 11th in the Global Peace Index. The only Scandinavian country to rank in the Global Peace Index’s top 15, Denmark offers low serious crime rates, stable democratic governance, strong public institutions and social security, excellent healthcare, and high levels of architectural and natural beauty.

It is also one of the safest countries for women worldwide and is very open and accepting as far as the gender minorities are concerned.

For those looking for a Scandinavian change of pace, Denmark is likely to be a good fit. If you are looking for a cooler climate, high levels of social trust, beautiful nature, and excellent healthcare, Denmark may be the country for you.

Malaysia ranks 12th in the Global Peace Index. It offers numerous benefits to residents, such as low crime rates, political stability, numerous areas of natural beauty, and high-quality healthcare. It is also amongst the more affordable countries in this list.

Overall, Malaysia is likely to be a strong choice if you are planning to relocate to Asia and are looking for high levels of safety and affordability, excellent healthcare options, and a rich and warm cultural experience.

The least safe countries according to 2026 Global Peace Index are ranked as follows (from least safe to most safe):

1. Russia
2. Sudan
3. Democratic Republic of the Congo
4. Ukraine
5. Israel
6. South Sudan
7. Afghanistan
8. Yemen
9. Syria
10. Mali
11. Somalia
12. Pakistan
13. Myanmar
14. Central African Republic
15. Burkina Faso

Numerous factors go into measuring a country’s safety levels, such as number of external and internal conflicts fought, level of weapons imports, level of violent crime, number of violent demonstrations, and perceptions of criminality. While these are amongst the factors used in the indexes listed in this article, there are numerous other factors which can contribute, such as levels of petty theft, property theft, and non-violent crime.

In general, when deciding on where to relocate, it is important to identify the factors which are important to you. A country which scores low according to one metric may score highly according to another, so you should make sure to decide which variables are important to your own sense of safety.

It is also worth considering that safety levels may vary significantly between different areas of a country. Even if a country ranks highly for safety overall, it may still have specific neighbourhoods with higher crime rates. So too, a country which scores comparatively lowly for safety may still have neighbourhoods in which it is possible to live a safe and stable life.

Regardless of the safety criteria which you use, however, there are certain countries which are consistently considered to be amongst the safest in the world, such as Iceland, Denmark, New Zealand, Austria, and Ireland. If you are looking to move to a safe country but are unsure of which safety metrics to prioritize, these countries generally offer comparatively safe living environments and a high quality of life, though it is still important to keep in mind that safety levels vary even within generally safe countries.

Moving country can often be daunting, as there are numerous factors to consider when making your final decision on your next destination. For many people looking to move overseas, one of the main considerations is safety levels in their new destination. Many variables go into deciding whether or not a country is safe and it can be hard to know which country is the right fit for you.

At Total Law, our experts are adept at helping with every stage of the relocation journey, from identifying which country is the best fit to helping you settle into your new home upon arrival. Contact us today on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 to learn about our full range of services, including our advice and fast-track packages, and to help ensure that your move runs as smoothly and quickly as possible.