Wouldn’t it be great to live in one of the safest countries in the world? Worrying about crime, natural disasters, war, and terrorism is quite common in many places, yet some nations offer us the possibility of living a more carefree life. In addition to low levels of crime and violence, a stable economic environment is also important when talking about safety. Thus, any country wishing to be truly safe, must ensure that its citizens have the necessary financial security to go about their lives without being in constant fear of a looming economic crisis.
So what other criteria must one satisfy in order to rank amongst the safest countries in the world? Crime, violence, and economic hardship must certainly be as minimal as possible, while the complete absence of natural disasters is also a given. In addition, the governments of these countries must be efficient at solving any problems that should arise, thus allowing their citizens to feel more safe within their borders. Although all these factors are important, taking them all into account would make it quite difficult to determine which are the safest countries in the world. The reason for this is two-fold: on the one hand, accounting for factors such as crime or economic stability might be simple, yet measuring a government’s ability to solve an issue isn’t. On the other hand, how safe someone feels depends largely on their perception, making it easy to confuse real security issues and general perceptions of looming threats. This is usually the case of terrorism, which might make US citizens for example feel unsafe, while other problems are ignored, despite the fact that they produce more violence.
So how do we go about presenting the list of the 10 safest countries in the world? Well, if you already read our post regarding the 20 wealthiest countries in 2013, then you already know that we like to concentrate on one main factor. In this case, we will take a nation’s crime rate as the main criteria, as it is overall accepted as the main concern in terms of safety. Nevertheless, we have also kept other factors in mind, in order to avoid claiming a country is safe, solely based on the fact that crime is low. After all, remote areas might offer tiny crime rates and still not offer any safety in terms of protection from natural disasters and economic stability.
Hence, after considering all the necessary information, we have come up with the following list of the ten safest countries in the world, which we hope you enjoy.
10. Singapore
Many claim Singapore is so safe due to the fact that punishments and penalties are very harsh and implemented swiftly. Their laws are as tough as their police is efficient!
9. Bahrain
A solid financial structure is accompanied by strict laws in Bahrain, making it one of the safest countries in the world. In addition, residents don’t live in fear like in neighboring countries, thanks to the existing freedoms in Bahrain.
8. Georgia
Situated between Turkey and Russia, Georgia has astonishingly low crime rates. Permanent police patrols, a great reduction in corruption, and new safety measures, have certainly turned things around for Georgians.
7. Luxembourg
It is really not surprising to find Luxembourg on this list, mainly because it is one of the richest countries in the world. Thanks to its solid economy and great job opportunities, crime simply does not pay.
6. Malta
Crime, terrorism and natural disasters are all things one doesn’t find in Malta. The Mediterranean island is thus not only beautiful, but a very safe place to live.
5. United Arab Emirates
Since weapons are rarely used in the United Arab Emirates, violent crimes do not occur very often. Despite what some may think, having extremely harsh laws seems to have paid dividends.
4. South Korea
There are few places in the world where you will feel as safe as in South Korea. Crime is extremely low, natural disasters don’t occur and the economy is as stable as ever.
3. Hong Kong
With crimes rates far below those of the US and Europe, Hong Kong has made it to the third spot on our list. Safety regulations seem to be flawless, as crime is very rare in this city that rarely sleeps.
2. Taiwan
Judging by their low crime rates, Taiwan’s citizens are certainly not prone to violence. Tourists and residents alike feel safe in this country, to the extent that even women can go out at night without any concern.
1. Japan
Clearly Asian countries offer the most safety, and Japan is no different in this regard. The culture of its citizens, which values discipline above all else, is sometimes mentioned as the reason why the Land of the Rising Sun has the lowest crime rates in the world.
