Which are the safest countries in the world, and which are the most dangerous? When we first wrote this post in 2019, we used a list from Global Finance magazine, and we were surprised to see two countries we loved, the Philippines and El Salvador, near the bottom.
Lists like that are only as good as the data behind them, so we have rebuilt this post using the most widely quoted ranking there is: the Global Peace Index.
Updated October 2026: the 2026 Global Peace Index in brief.
- Most peaceful: Iceland, for the 19th year in a row, followed by New Zealand, Switzerland, Slovenia and Ireland.
- Least peaceful: Russia, for the first time, followed by Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ukraine and Israel.
- The big picture: global peacefulness has got worse for 12 years in a row, and there are more active conflicts between states than at any time since the Second World War.
- Source: Global Peace Index 2026, Institute for Economics & Peace, published June 2026. It ranks 163 countries covering 99.7% of the world’s population.
What the Global Peace Index measures
The Global Peace Index (GPI) is produced every year by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), an independent think tank. It scores countries on 23 indicators grouped into three areas:
- Safety and security: things like crime, homicide rates, violent demonstrations, political instability and terrorism.
- Ongoing conflict: wars and conflicts the country is involved in, at home and abroad.
- Militarisation: military spending, armed forces, weapons and nuclear capability.
The lower the score, the more peaceful the country.
That last area matters. The GPI measures how peaceful a country is overall, not how safe it feels for a tourist walking around at night. A country with a big military or wars abroad can score badly even if its tourist areas are calm, and a peaceful country can still have pickpockets.
The 10 safest (most peaceful) countries in the world in 2026
- Iceland (1.161)
- New Zealand (1.343)
- Switzerland (1.363)
- Slovenia (1.369)
- Ireland (1.371)
- Austria (1.421)
- Portugal (1.427)
- Singapore (1.435)
- Finland (1.478)
- Japan (1.489)
Seven of the top 10 are in Europe, which the GPI rates as the most peaceful region in the world.
Iceland’s lead is huge. It has very low crime, no army of its own and no involvement in conflicts, and it has topped the list every year since 2008.
We were pleased to see Ireland in fifth place, and Portugal, where we have lived (in Cascais and the Algarve), in seventh. It matches our experience of both.
The 10 least peaceful countries in the world in 2026
- Russia (163rd)
- Sudan (162nd)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo (161st)
- Ukraine (160th)
- Israel (159th)
- South Sudan (158th)
- Afghanistan (157th)
- Yemen (156th)
- Syria (155th)
- Mali (154th)
Almost all of these are countries at war or recovering from one. Most of them are places your government will advise you not to travel to at all.
Where popular travel destinations rank
Most people reading this are not planning a trip to Iceland or Sudan, so here is where some of the places our readers ask about sit out of 163:
- Canada: 14th
- Australia: 20th
- Spain: 27th
- United Kingdom: 39th
- Indonesia: 69th
- United Arab Emirates: 73rd
- Thailand: 101st
- Philippines: 102nd
- El Salvador: 121st
- United States: 134th
- Mexico: 139th
The United States is a good example of why you need to read the rankings carefully. It fell to 134th mainly because of rising political instability and violent demonstrations, according to the report, rather than anything most tourists will notice on a city break.
The index uses data collected before the latest attacks on the Gulf states in 2026, so check the current travel advice if you are flying through Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
What about the Philippines and El Salvador?
These were the two countries that surprised us most on the old list, because we had such good experiences in both. We spent a month travelling in the Philippines and loved it, and we drove all around El Salvador.
On the 2026 index, the Philippines is in the middle of the table at 102nd. El Salvador is 121st, and the report notes the government’s “state of exception”, in place since March 2022. More than 84,000 suspected gang members had been detained by January 2025, and the government reports a big fall in murders. The crackdown has also been criticised by human rights groups.
Neither ranking would stop us going back. But they are a good reminder to read up on the specific areas you plan to visit, not just the country as a whole.
How to use these rankings when you travel
- Use them as a starting point, not a verdict. A country-wide score hides big differences between regions and cities.
- Check your government’s travel advice. For example, Ireland’s DFA, the UK FCDO or Smartraveller in Australia. They are updated far more often than any yearly index, and they affect your travel insurance.
- Get proper travel insurance. Read what it says about travel to places your government advises against.
- Remember everyday risks. For most travellers, road safety, petty theft and scams are more likely problems than anything in the headlines.
Final thoughts
We have had some of the best times of our lives in countries near the top of this list and in countries much further down. The rankings are interesting, and they are worth a look, but they are just numbers.
Where are you in the world right now, and how does your country rank? You can explore every country on the Global Peace Index interactive map.
Planning a trip?
- True Traveller: the travel insurance we use
- Fast Cover: travel insurance for Australian residents
- Airalo: an eSIM so you have data, maps and your embassy’s number from the moment you land
- Booking.com: hotels with reviews from recent guests
Steve and Sabina
Source: Institute for Economics & Peace, Global Peace Index 2026 (June 2026). Scores and ranks are taken from the report’s overall ranking table.
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