Tourism risk is multifaceted: armed conflict, violent crime, terrorism, political instability, exposure to natural disasters, health and road safety, sanitary threats, and legal/discriminatory factors. A country may be safe in resort areas but risky in border areas; a "peaceful" country may have deadly roads. A multi-parameter approach with weighting factors is the only fair way to compare destinations.
Methodology (briefly)
We combine indices of public peace and security into a comprehensive view: - Conflicts and political violence (war, clashes, mass unrest).
— Violent crimes and murders.
— Terrorism and kidnapping.
— Disaster risk and infrastructure resilience.
— Health threats (malaria, dengue fever, food and water safety).
— Transport and road safety.
— Access to quality medical care and emergency response.
— Legal risks and the vulnerability of specific groups (e.g., LGBTQ+). War and violent crime pose the greatest risk, but the ultimate risk is determined by the route, season, and traveler profile.
Where the risk is systemically high (highest level)
Countries with persistently high travel risk in 2024–2025 include Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, Sudan and South Sudan, Somalia, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (especially the eastern part), Mali and Burkina Faso (Sahel), Libya, Iraq (parts of Iraq), the Palestinian Territories (particularly the Gaza Strip), Myanmar, Haiti, and the frontline areas of Ukraine. These regions are characterized by active conflict/insurgency activity, increased risk of terrorism and kidnapping, poor access to healthcare, and unpredictable movement. Many governments recommend "do not travel" or "avoid all travel" to these regions.
High crime rates without full-scale war
Some regions experience intense street and violent crime rather than war: Haiti (tight gang control in the capital), Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago (high homicide and armed robbery rates), Venezuela (armed robbery, overburdened security forces), parts of Mexico (cartel activity), Ecuador (sharp spike in violence in 2023–2024), South Africa (rising violent crime rates), Honduras, and historically El Salvador, although El Salvador has recently seen a decline in street violence. In all these cases, the risk varies greatly by region; resort and business districts are much safer than urban outskirts and border areas.
Regional Notes
— Middle East and North Africa: from the stable UAE, Oman and Morocco to conflict zones in Yemen, Syria, Libya and parts of Iraq/Palestinian territories.
— Sub-Saharan Africa: High risk in the Sahel and Somalia; Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana, and Rwanda are relatively stable, with wildlife and road safety being key factors.
— Americas: Caribbean — mixed (Jamaica/Haiti — high risk, Barbados/Curaçao — low); Mexico — varies by state; Brazil and Colombia — depend on city and behavior.
— Europe: Generally safe, with a risk of military action in frontline Ukrainian regions; pickpocketing and occasional unrest in EU cities.
— Asia: very high risk in Afghanistan and Myanmar; localized risks in the border areas of Pakistan, the far south of Thailand (Pattani, etc.), and remote areas of the Philippines. Japan and Singapore are exceptionally safe in terms of crime, although Japan is seismically active.
— Oceania: Generally safe; exception: Papua New Guinea (violent crime in some areas).
Disasters and seasonality
Natural disasters can increase the risk in countries that are typically calm. The Philippines, Bangladesh, and the Indian coast are prone to cyclones and floods; Indonesia, Japan, Turkey, and Nepal are prone to earthquakes; and in the Caribbean and Persian Gulf, the hurricane season runs from June to November. Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East are increasingly experiencing extreme heat and wildfires during the summer. Plan your travels according to the natural disaster calendar.
Health and transport: silent killers
Even in safe countries, the leading causes of death for tourists are road accidents, drowning, and heart attacks. Road fatalities are generally higher in areas where road enforcement is weak (parts of Africa and Southeast Asia, and some Latin American countries). Health risks include malaria (tropical Africa, parts of Oceania), dengue fever (Southeast Asia, Central and South America), hepatitis, and diarrheal diseases. In remote areas, the time it takes to receive qualified medical care is crucial.
15 countries at higher risk (2025)
– Afghanistan – armed conflict, risk of terrorism/kidnapping, limited medical care.
– Yemen – active hostilities, humanitarian crisis, mine threat.
– Syria – ongoing clashes, fragmented territorial control.
– Sudan – large-scale hostilities since 2023, instability in cities and regions.
– South Sudan – inter-ethnic violence, armed groups, weak infrastructure.
- Somalia - terrorism, coastal piracy, limited central control.
– Central African Republic – armed groups; unsafe roads outside the capital.
– DR Congo (east) – insurgency, crime, sporadic violence, complex logistics.
– Mali – escalation of the situation in the Sahel, IEDs and ambushes on the roads.
– Burkina Faso – increase in attacks, travel restrictions outside cities.
– Libya – fragmented power, periodic military actions, mines.
– Iraq (certain provinces) – residual risk of terrorism/armed groups, mines/UXO.
– Palestinian territories (especially Gaza) – intense fighting and blockade.
– Myanmar – civil war, checkpoints, ambushes.
– Haiti – gang control in the capital, kidnappings, limited access to services.
Countries with mixed risk
— Mexico: From safe resort areas to high-risk border states; cartel violence outside tourist areas.
– Brazil: Varies by city/region; main threat is armed robbery, especially at night.
– South Africa: Elevated levels of violent crime; central business districts and some urban areas require special caution.
– Nigeria: Localized conflict and kidnappings in the north and the Niger Delta; the situation in major cities is uneven.
– Türkiye: Resorts are generally safe; Risk of earthquakes and caution near the Syrian border.
— The Philippines and Indonesia: natural disasters plus localized insurrections; major resorts are safer.
The safest for mass tourism
Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Portugal, Slovenia, Finland, Canada, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand, and Ireland combine low crime rates with strong institutions, high-quality healthcare, and resilient infrastructure. Risks remain (petty theft, weather, seismic activity), but they are predictable and manageable with basic discipline.
Reducing personal risk
— Please review the latest government advice before booking and when moving within the country.
— Plan by district, not "for the entire country"; take into account the seasonality of hazards.
— Purchase medical insurance with evacuation and event coverage.
— Don't attract attention: don't wear flashy clothing; use licensed taxis with apps.
— Protect documents and money: separate cards/cash; carry copies with you.
— Comply with local laws and regulations; Be aware of specific legal/discriminatory risks.
— Avoid "red zones" - prudence is better than bravado.
Сonclusion
The danger rating isn't a death sentence, but a planning tool. Use it to make your dream a reality: choose the right region and season, add insurance and time buffers, and adjust your behavior on the spot. This will make "difficult" places understandable, and "safe" ones truly safe.
Tourism risk is multifaceted: armed conflict, violent crime, terrorism, political instability, exposure to natural disasters, health and road safety, sanitary threats, and legal/discriminatory factors. A country may be safe in resort areas but risky in border areas; a "peaceful" country may have deadly roads. A multi-parameter approach with weighting factors is the only fair way to compare destinations.
Methodology (briefly)
We combine indices of public peace and security into a comprehensive view: - Conflicts and political violence (war, clashes, mass unrest).
— Violent crimes and murders.
— Terrorism and kidnapping.
— Disaster risk and infrastructure resilience.
— Health threats (malaria, dengue fever, food and water safety).
— Transport and road safety.
— Access to quality medical care and emergency response.
— Legal risks and the vulnerability of specific groups (e.g., LGBTQ+). War and violent crime pose the greatest risk, but the ultimate risk is determined by the route, season, and traveler profile.
Where the risk is systemically high (highest level)
Countries with persistently high travel risk in 2024–2025 include Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, Sudan and South Sudan, Somalia, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (especially the eastern part), Mali and Burkina Faso (Sahel), Libya, Iraq (parts of Iraq), the Palestinian Territories (particularly the Gaza Strip), Myanmar, Haiti, and the frontline areas of Ukraine. These regions are characterized by active conflict/insurgency activity, increased risk of terrorism and kidnapping, poor access to healthcare, and unpredictable movement. Many governments recommend "do not travel" or "avoid all travel" to these regions.
High crime rates without full-scale war
Some regions experience intense street and violent crime rather than war: Haiti (tight gang control in the capital), Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago (high homicide and armed robbery rates), Venezuela (armed robbery, overburdened security forces), parts of Mexico (cartel activity), Ecuador (sharp spike in violence in 2023–2024), South Africa (rising violent crime rates), Honduras, and historically El Salvador, although El Salvador has recently seen a decline in street violence. In all these cases, the risk varies greatly by region; resort and business districts are much safer than urban outskirts and border areas.
Regional Notes
— Middle East and North Africa: from the stable UAE, Oman and Morocco to conflict zones in Yemen, Syria, Libya and parts of Iraq/Palestinian territories.
— Sub-Saharan Africa: High risk in the Sahel and Somalia; Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana, and Rwanda are relatively stable, with wildlife and road safety being key factors.
— Americas: Caribbean — mixed (Jamaica/Haiti — high risk, Barbados/Curaçao — low); Mexico — varies by state; Brazil and Colombia — depend on city and behavior.
— Europe: Generally safe, with a risk of military action in frontline Ukrainian regions; pickpocketing and occasional unrest in EU cities.
— Asia: very high risk in Afghanistan and Myanmar; localized risks in the border areas of Pakistan, the far south of Thailand (Pattani, etc.), and remote areas of the Philippines. Japan and Singapore are exceptionally safe in terms of crime, although Japan is seismically active.
— Oceania: Generally safe; exception: Papua New Guinea (violent crime in some areas).
Disasters and seasonality
Natural disasters can increase the risk in countries that are typically calm. The Philippines, Bangladesh, and the Indian coast are prone to cyclones and floods; Indonesia, Japan, Turkey, and Nepal are prone to earthquakes; and in the Caribbean and Persian Gulf, the hurricane season runs from June to November. Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East are increasingly experiencing extreme heat and wildfires during the summer. Plan your travels according to the natural disaster calendar.
Health and transport: silent killers
Even in safe countries, the leading causes of death for tourists are road accidents, drowning, and heart attacks. Road fatalities are generally higher in areas where road enforcement is weak (parts of Africa and Southeast Asia, and some Latin American countries). Health risks include malaria (tropical Africa, parts of Oceania), dengue fever (Southeast Asia, Central and South America), hepatitis, and diarrheal diseases. In remote areas, the time it takes to receive qualified medical care is crucial.
15 countries at higher risk (2025)
– Afghanistan – armed conflict, risk of terrorism/kidnapping, limited medical care.
– Yemen – active hostilities, humanitarian crisis, mine threat.
– Syria – ongoing clashes, fragmented territorial control.
– Sudan – large-scale hostilities since 2023, instability in cities and regions.
– South Sudan – inter-ethnic violence, armed groups, weak infrastructure.
- Somalia - terrorism, coastal piracy, limited central control.
– Central African Republic – armed groups; unsafe roads outside the capital.
– DR Congo (east) – insurgency, crime, sporadic violence, complex logistics.
– Mali – escalation of the situation in the Sahel, IEDs and ambushes on the roads.
– Burkina Faso – increase in attacks, travel restrictions outside cities.
– Libya – fragmented power, periodic military actions, mines.
– Iraq (certain provinces) – residual risk of terrorism/armed groups, mines/UXO.
– Palestinian territories (especially Gaza) – intense fighting and blockade.
– Myanmar – civil war, checkpoints, ambushes.
– Haiti – gang control in the capital, kidnappings, limited access to services.
Countries with mixed risk
— Mexico: From safe resort areas to high-risk border states; cartel violence outside tourist areas.
– Brazil: Varies by city/region; main threat is armed robbery, especially at night.
– South Africa: Elevated levels of violent crime; central business districts and some urban areas require special caution.
– Nigeria: Localized conflict and kidnappings in the north and the Niger Delta; the situation in major cities is uneven.
– Türkiye: Resorts are generally safe; Risk of earthquakes and caution near the Syrian border.
— The Philippines and Indonesia: natural disasters plus localized insurrections; major resorts are safer.
The safest for mass tourism
Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Portugal, Slovenia, Finland, Canada, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand, and Ireland combine low crime rates with strong institutions, high-quality healthcare, and resilient infrastructure. Risks remain (petty theft, weather, seismic activity), but they are predictable and manageable with basic discipline.
Reducing personal risk
— Please review the latest government advice before booking and when moving within the country.
— Plan by district, not "for the entire country"; take into account the seasonality of hazards.
— Purchase medical insurance with evacuation and event coverage.
— Don't attract attention: don't wear flashy clothing; use licensed taxis with apps.
— Protect documents and money: separate cards/cash; carry copies with you.
— Comply with local laws and regulations; Be aware of specific legal/discriminatory risks.
— Avoid "red zones" - prudence is better than bravado.
Сonclusion
The danger rating isn't a death sentence, but a planning tool. Use it to make your dream a reality: choose the right region and season, add insurance and time buffers, and adjust your behavior on the spot. This will make "difficult" places understandable, and "safe" ones truly safe.