If you’ve ever thought about leaving your home country, definitely take a look at our list of the 25 most dangerous countries for expats.
For many around the world, starting a brand new life in an exciting new place is a dream, and the number of people who are making the choice to move to a foreign country is steadily increasing. This kind of major life decision will always come with certain hesitations, and there are multiple crucial factors to consider when it comes to picking up and leaving your home country. But arguably, most important of all is overall safety. Debating becoming an expat can be scary, but doing your research beforehand can help you to avoid ending up in a potentially dangerous situation.
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If you are interested, you may also want to check our article on easiest countries for Americans to live and work in.
In looking for the most dangerous countries for expats, we first identified the top 40 countries for expats. We sourced this data from Life Hack, CN Traveler, and Business Insider. We also got additional information from INC, Independent.co.uk, and International Living. We took note of the countries appearing in all sources, and then ranked them based on crime rates, according to Numbeo. The higher the crime rates against foreigners, the higher their ranking on our list.
Continue reading to learn more about the most dangerous countries for expats.
25. China
Crime rates: 33.9
In an article published by Bloomberg, China was dubbed as a bad bet for expats. Apart from its relatively high crime rate, the country is also known to be one of the most populated in the world; and thus, it would seem that because they have so many people for every occupation imaginable, finding a job would be challenging. Plus, pollution rates are also alarming.
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24. Bahrain
Crime rates: 35.35
Telegraph once featured political tensions in Bahrain that forced expats to relocate. The country tends to be a popular choice for expats because of their local currency values. Recent events have lead to quieter areas of the country picking up sales even more than the cities which used to be popular for expats.
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23. Portugal
Crime rates: 35.39
Apart from high crime rates, an article about expat living in Portugal also mentioned dangerous roads in the country. It should also be noted that they have quite high prices for consumer goods and basic services.
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22. Hungary
Crime rates: 38.39
According to an article from Expat Focus, property crimes are prevalent in Hungary, despite a general reputation of being a safe country. Burglaries and home robberies are common, especially in expat homes.
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21. New Zealand
Crime rates: 38.78
On a New Zealand-based website, write-ups claim that there are cities in New Zealand suffering a higher crime rate than ever before. This is contrary to the long-held belief that New Zealand is a generally safe place. There have been notable incidents of mob street mulling, attempted abduction, and rape.
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20. Canada
Crime rates: 39.25
Canada is the second-largest country in the world based in geographical size. They also have a reputation as a very culturallydiverse country, since the Canadian government is one of the most welcoming when it comes to immigrants. But, like other countries, Canada has its share of dangerous areas, as stated in an article by Expat Focus. Assault, robbery, and murder are three of the most prevalent serious crimes in the country.
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19. Philippines
Crime rates: 39.77
The Philippines is popular for its beautiful beaches, but also for some unfortunate incidents of terrorism. There have been various foreign kidnapping incidents in the country, especially in Mindanao. The rest of the islands still appear to be relatively safe, considering the increasing number of expats living in the country. According to Expat Arrivals, the Philippines could still be good for expats because of low living costs and friendly locals.
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18. United Kingdom
Crime rates: 41.19
The UK has quite a high crime rate, especially considering that it is known as one of the world’s richest countries. According to Currency Fair, BREXIT created dangers for expats living in the UK, since it supposedly brought out their freedom. Crime has been on the rise in the UK in the form of assault, kidnapping, and property crime.
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17. Australia
Crime rates: 42.42
In an article from News 24, reports show increasing rates of murder and assault in Australia; not only for expats, but for locals as well. Australia has been a popular expat destination because of its stable economy and racial equality, which we see through their culturally-diverse nation.
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16. Norway
Crime rates: 45.69
Norway is a popular vacation destination because of its great weather and rich culture. However, taking a vacation to Norway is different from living and moving in there. Apart from its high crime rates, an article from Matador Network also stresses their drug crisis, storms, and locals giving expats the dirtier jobs.
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15. Sweden
Crime rates: 46.65
An article from a local website in Sweden mentions locals giving the ‘cold shoulder’ to expats, never making them feel welcome. This makes it hard for expats to adjust to Swedish life. Crime rates are also on the rise, including burglaries and assault.
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14. Thailand
Crime rates: 49.78
Dailymail UK once published an article about how Thailand was supposedly one of the most dangerous tourist destinations. The article focused on police corruption, crimes against foreigners, and what was called a “murderous indifference” against foreigners. However, the country remains a top tourist destination because of their tropical beaches.
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13. Panama
Crime rates: 50.01
Expat Focus has an article about concerns for the safety of expats interested in Panama. Most people would wish to live in Panama mainly because of its low cost of living, but it must be noted that the US government once issued a travel warning against this country, mainly due to the prevalence of shooting, mugging, and other types of assault, against both locals and foreigners.
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12. Mexico
Crime rates: 50.32
In an article from Expat Arrivals, high rates of drug-related crimes– such as murder and kidnapping– were stressed. The country is known for its drug cartels, which are heavily linked to the high levels of both organized and street-level crime.
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11. Ecuador
Crime rates: 50.88
A website called Escape America Now, published an article on on concerns over safety and crime rates in Ecuador. The country is popular as an expat destination because of what seems to be a lower cost of living and a constantly lovely weather. It is “eternal spring”, as they call it. However, corruption of the government and their alarmingly high crime rates would have to be seriously considered before making the move to Ecuador. And now, let’s see what’s next on our list of most dangerous countries for expats.
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10. Colombia
Crime rates: 51.69
Like Ecuador, Colombia’s claims to fame as an expat destination are its low cost of living rates and tropical weather. However, the crime rates are becoming too high to ignore. According to an article from Smarter Travel, the country has a high prevalence of pickpocketing, carjacking, kidnapping, and assault. Locals and foreigners alike have been victimized by such crimes.
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9. Vietnam
Crime rates: 52.96
According to an article published in The Diplomat, road accidents are extremely common in Vietnam, making both driving and walking very dangerous. Serious crimes like assault and murders have both been observed. It is clear why Vietnam has made it to our list of most dangerous countries for expats.
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8. Costa Rica
Crime rates: 55.94
In a feature article published by Expat Exchange, it is said that Costa Rica’s main safety issue is how lax security is in the country. Burglaries, drug-related crimes, and robberies have all become common crimes in the country as well.
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7. Uganda
Crime rates: 56.87
We are continuing our list of most dangerous countries for expats with Uganda that is popularly known for its rich wildlife and majestic mountains, which attract expats to move to the country. In an article posted by Expat Arrivals, serious crimes like mugging, credit card fraud, and robbery have become common. Terrorist threats are also a concern.
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6. Peru
Crime rates: 63.28
Expat Peru published an article discussing the pits and perks of moving to Peru as an expat. Pickpocketing and assault are common, especially for new people on the block. Tourists are usually victims of these crimes, and are usually advised not to go out at night alone.
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5. Kenya
Crime rates: 64.96
Crime has always been an issue in Kenya, despite it being a popular destination for expats and tourists alike. According to Expat Arrivals, one of the biggest concerns of expats living in Kenya is road safety. Carjacking, mugging, and burglaries tend to occur frequently as well. These facts just prove that indeed, Kenya is one of the most dangerous countries for expats.
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4. Russia
Crime rates: 46.65
In an article published by Expat Focus, racially-motivated crimes against Asians, Arabs, and Africans were mentioned as a primary concern in Russia. ATM robberies, burglaries, assaults, and pickpocketing are common crimes as well.
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3. Afghanistan
Crime rates: 73.85
Unfortunately, terrorist organizations have had a negative effect on life for the average person and expat in Afghanistan, the next one on our list of most dangerous countries for expats. Expat Arrivals also notes that safety and security have been long-standing concerns in the country. Healthcare, infrastructure, and economy are also underdeveloped in the Afghanistan.
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2. Iraq
Crime rates: (Not available)
In a news article published by News 18, Iraq, the next one on our list of most dangerous countries for expats is said to not be a good choice for expats. Despite the lifting of travel bans and warnings against Iraq, there are still very severe safety concerns to take into account. Abduction, kidnapping, bombings, and murder have been known to happen quite frequently.
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1. Syria
Crime rates: (Not available)
In an article by CNBC, Syria was depicted as a ‘dangerous world’. Tensions are ongoing, creating a largely unstable life for Syrian people, as demonstrated by their mass exodus in recent years. The war-torn nation will hopefully see better times soon; but for now, it is not a suitable choice of new home for expats.
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This was our list of 25 most dangerous countries for expats. Whenever you travel, be sure to take the necessary precautions to avoid finding yourself in a dangerous situation.
