Safety is one of the first questions families and remote workers ask when considering life abroad, especially when looking for a new home, and one of the most poorly defined. Many “Safest Countries to Live Abroad” rankings rely on vague perceptions, mix safety with lifestyle or immigration ease, or quietly ignore real risks like healthcare access or natural disasters.
This guide to safest places to live for expats takes a different approach.
We rank the safest countries to live for expats using a strict, data-driven framework focused only on safety — not cost of living, visas, or lifestyle preferences. Immigration practicality is discussed separately for context, but it is not factored into the rankings.
The result is a clear, defensible look at where real-world risk is lowest and why, particularly in relation to ongoing international conflict.
How to use this global safety rankings for relocation
- This list ranks overall safety, not ease of immigration or affordability.
- Countries near the top may be difficult to move to; practicality is explained separately.
- Small differences in rank do not imply large differences in real-world safety.
This guide is written for globally mobile individuals and families considering life outside their country of citizenship, regardless of nationality.
Top 25 Safest Countries
1. Singapore
2. Japan
3. Switzerland
4. Iceland
5. Norway
6. Denmark
7. Finland
8. New Zealand
9. Portugal
10. Austria
11. Spain
12. Canada
13. Germany
14. Netherlands
15. Australia
16. Ireland
17. France (tie)
17. Italy (tie)
18. Puerto Rico (tie)
18. Chile (tie)
19. Costa Rica
20. Slovenia
21. Czech Republic
22. Belgium
23. South Korea
24. Estonia
25. Uruguay
How This Ranking Was Built
Each country is evaluated using four equally weighted safety factors (25% each):
1. Violent Crime Risk
This includes homicide and serious assault risk, trends over time, and whether violence is isolated or widespread. Petty crime and scams are excluded.
2. Institutional Stability & Rule of Law
This measures how reliably systems function when something goes wrong, including police effectiveness, legal predictability, corruption levels, and the risk of civil unrest.
3. Healthcare Access & Emergency Care
Safety includes the ability to receive high-quality medical care quickly. This factor considers emergency response, healthcare quality, availability of private care, and consistency across regions.
4. Environmental & Disaster Risk
Low-probability, high-impact risks matter. Earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, and climate volatility are included here.
Data sources include international crime statistics from the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), global governance and corruption indicators like the Worldwide Governance Indicators from the World Bank, the Corruption Perceptions Index from Transparency International, healthcare system performance data, and global disaster risk assessments such as the INFORM Risk Index. Rankings reflect multi-year trends rather than single-year anomalies.
Immigration difficulty, visa access, cost of living, and lifestyle factors are intentionally excluded from the ranking and explained separately.
The 25 Safest Countries to Live Abroad (Ranked)
All countries below are evaluated across the same four factors (25% each):
Violent crime · Institutions · Healthcare · Environmental risk
This ranking is reviewed annually as crime trends, climate risk, healthcare capacity, and institutional stability evolve.
#1. Singapore
Violent crime:
Among the lowest violent crime rates in the world; serious violence is exceptionally rare.
Institutions & rule of law:
Highly predictable governance, strict enforcement, and extremely low corruption.
Healthcare & emergency care:
World-class healthcare system with fast emergency response and consistent quality, enhancing personal security for all residents.
Environmental risk:
Minimal exposure to earthquakes, hurricanes, or climate-driven disasters.
Why it ranks here:
Singapore is the only country that performs at an elite level across all four safety factors without a meaningful weakness.
Can you realistically move here? Generally only with a senior, well-paid employer-sponsored role based in Singapore. Passive wealth alone typically isn’t enough; investment pathways exist but are uncommon, selective, and usually require active business involvement in Singapore.
#2. Japan
Violent crime:
Exceptionally low violent crime, even in major cities.
Institutions & rule of law:
Strong institutional reliability, social order, and effective policing.
Healthcare & emergency care:
High-quality healthcare system with strong emergency response capacity. English proficiency varies widely, especially outside major hospitals.
Environmental risk:
Significant earthquake exposure lowers its overall safety score.
Why it ranks here:
Japan is among the safest daily-life environments globally but ranks below Singapore due to environmental risk.
Can you realistically move here? Possible but not easy—most long-term paths run through employer sponsorship, marriage, or long timelines (often helped by Japanese language ability).
#3. Switzerland
Violent crime:
Very low violent crime with minimal regional variation.
Institutions & rule of law:
Highly stable political system, strong legal protections, and low corruption.
Healthcare & emergency care:
One of the strongest healthcare systems globally, with excellent emergency access.
Environmental risk:
Low overall disaster exposure.
Why it ranks here:
Switzerland scores extremely well across all categories but lacks the near-zero risk profile of the top two.
Can you realistically move here? Hard for non-EU citizens—most realistic routes are EU/EFTA freedom of movement, rare employer sponsorship, or family ties; quotas and strict rules apply.
#4. Iceland
Violent crime:
Among the lowest violent crime rates worldwide.
Institutions & rule of law:
Highly trusted institutions and stable governance.
Healthcare & emergency care:
Solid healthcare access, though limited by population size and remoteness.
Environmental risk:
Volcanic and seismic activity meaningfully affect safety assessments.
Why it ranks here:
Iceland excels in crime and institutions but is constrained by environmental volatility and system scale.
Can you realistically move here? Limited—most long-term routes are via EU/EEA rights, specialized employer sponsorship, or family ties; it’s not broadly open to general movers.
#5. Norway
Violent crime:
Very low violent crime with high public safety.
Institutions & rule of law:
Strong governance, low corruption, and high institutional trust.
Healthcare & emergency care:
Excellent healthcare access and emergency response.
Environmental risk:
Norway faces minimal natural disaster risk, though extreme weather and remote geography in some regions can complicate access and response during winter months.
Why it ranks here:
Norway is consistently safe across all factors but ranks slightly below smaller Nordic peers due to climate exposure.
Can you realistically move here? Challenging unless EU/EEA—non-EU families typically need skilled employment sponsorship, family ties, or specific legal pathways.
#6. Denmark
Violent crime:
Low violent crime rates with strong public safety outcomes.
Institutions & rule of law:
Highly functional institutions and transparent governance.
Healthcare & emergency care:
Reliable healthcare system with strong emergency capacity.
Environmental risk:
Flooding and climate exposure are increasing concerns.
Why it ranks here:
Denmark is extremely safe overall but ranks below Norway due to environmental risk.
Can you realistically move here? Possible with the right setup—most routes require skilled work, family ties, or EU rights; rules can be strict and paperwork-heavy.
#7. Finland
Violent crime:
Low violent crime and high levels of personal safety.
Institutions & rule of law:
Exceptional institutional stability and low corruption.
Healthcare & emergency care:
Strong healthcare access nationwide.
Environmental risk:
Severe climate and geographic isolation impact resilience.
Why it ranks here:
Finland’s institutional strength offsets environmental challenges, keeping it firmly in the top tier.
Can you realistically move here? Yes, if you qualify—common paths are skilled work, study-to-work transitions, or EU rights; easier if you have in-demand skills and a job offer.
#8. New Zealand
Violent crime:
Low violent crime with generally safe daily life.
Institutions & rule of law:
Stable democracy with reliable legal systems.
Healthcare & emergency care:
Good healthcare access, particularly in urban areas.
Environmental risk:
Earthquake risk and geographic isolation lower overall safety.
Why it ranks here:
New Zealand performs well across all factors but is constrained by seismic exposure.
Can you realistically move here? Possible but selective, with established pathways for entrepreneurs, investors, and families; New Zealand does not offer a dedicated remote-worker visa, and immigration settings can change over time.
#9. Portugal
Violent crime:
Very low violent crime by European standards.
Institutions & rule of law:
Stable democratic institutions and low corruption.
Healthcare & emergency care:
Portugal offers strong healthcare access and reliable emergency care. English is commonly spoken in private facilities and major cities, while proficiency can be more limited in public clinics and smaller towns.
Environmental risk:
Wildfires and heat events represent the main risk.
Why it ranks here:
Portugal excels on crime and institutions but ranks below Northern Europe due to environmental exposure.
Can you realistically move here? Yes for many families—Portugal has multiple legal residency routes; requirements exist, but it’s generally one of Europe’s more accessible options.
#10. Austria
Violent crime:
Low violent crime with consistent public safety.
Institutions & rule of law:
Reliable governance and strong legal frameworks.
Healthcare & emergency care:
Excellent healthcare access and emergency response.
Environmental risk:
Flooding and alpine environmental risks factor into ranking.
Why it ranks here:
Austria is highly safe overall but ranks slightly below Portugal due to environmental considerations.
Can you realistically move here? More feasible for EU citizens—non-EU routes usually require skilled work sponsorship or specific residence permits; expect bureaucracy.
#11. Spain
Violent crime:
Low violent crime, even in major urban areas.
Institutions & rule of law:
Strong institutions with occasional regional tensions.
Healthcare & emergency care:
One of Europe’s strongest healthcare systems, providing free healthcare and emergency care. English is more commonly spoken in private care and expat-dense regions.
Environmental risk:
Heat waves, drought, and wildfire risk affect safety scores.
Why it ranks here:
Spain’s excellent healthcare offsets environmental stress, placing it just outside the top ten.
Can you realistically move here? Yes, though not casually—families and remote earners typically rely on business, investment, or structured long-stay residence pathways, rather than open-ended visas.
#12. Canada
Violent crime:
Relatively low violent crime nationally, with regional variation.
Institutions & rule of law:
Stable institutions and strong legal protections.
Healthcare & emergency care:
Universal healthcare with strong emergency services.
Environmental risk:
Wildfires and climate extremes increasingly affect safety.
Why it ranks here:
Canada’s institutional and healthcare strengths are tempered by rising environmental risk.
Can you realistically move here? Possible but process-heavy—most long-term routes involve skilled immigration programs, employer sponsorship, province-led nomination programs, or family sponsorship.
#13. Germany
Violent crime:
Low violent crime overall, with urban variation.
Institutions & rule of law:
Strong rule of law and effective governance.
Healthcare & emergency care:
Excellent healthcare access nationwide.
Environmental risk:
Flooding and infrastructure strain affect resilience.
Why it ranks here:
Germany remains very safe but ranks below peers due to environmental and infrastructure pressures.
Can you realistically move here? Often yes—Germany offers established residency pathways for qualified professionals and families, including structured skilled-worker permits with clear income and credential requirements, as well as family reunification. Expect paperwork and timelines, but the rules are well defined.
#14. Netherlands
Violent crime:
Low violent crime and strong public safety.
Institutions & rule of law:
Highly reliable institutions and governance.
Healthcare & emergency care:
Strong healthcare system with broad access.
Environmental risk:
Significant flood risk lowers overall safety score.
Why it ranks here:
The Netherlands scores well across most factors but is constrained by long-term environmental risk.
Can you realistically move here? Feasible with employer sponsorship—EU citizens have simpler paths; non-EU families usually need skilled work sponsorship or family routes.
#15. Australia
Violent crime:
Low violent crime by global standards.
Institutions & rule of law:
Stable democratic institutions and legal reliability.
Healthcare & emergency care:
Excellent healthcare system with strong emergency response.
Environmental risk:
Bushfires and climate volatility significantly impact safety.
Why it ranks here:
Australia’s environmental risk keeps it out of the top tier despite strong institutions and healthcare.
Can you realistically move here? Possible but selective—common routes are skilled migration, employer sponsorship, and family pathways; requirements can be strict and change over time.
#16. Ireland
Violent crime:
Low violent crime with generally safe daily life.
Institutions & rule of law:
Stable institutions and low corruption.
Healthcare & emergency care:
Healthcare access is improving but capacity remains limited.
Environmental risk:
Moderate climate exposure with low seismic risk.
Why it ranks here:
Ireland remains very safe but ranks lower due to healthcare capacity constraints.
Can you realistically move here? Yes, with the right visa; most non-EU routes rely on work permits in eligible fields or family sponsorship. Residency is achievable, but tight housing markets in major cities can be a practical constraint, especially for families.
#17. France (tie)
Violent crime:
Low violent crime nationally, with some urban concentration.
Institutions & rule of law:
Strong institutions but periodic civil unrest.
Healthcare & emergency care:
Healthcare access is excellent, though English proficiency can vary, particularly outside private facilities and major cities.
Environmental risk:
Heat waves, flooding, and regional risks factor in.
Why it ranks here:
France’s healthcare strength offsets institutional volatility, placing it mid-pack.
Can you realistically move here? Yes, but bureaucratic—paths include work, family, and long-stay residence routes; expect documentation and slower processing.
#17. Italy (tie)
Violent crime:
Low violent crime overall, with regional variation.
Institutions & rule of law:
Functional institutions with bureaucratic inconsistency.
Healthcare & emergency care:
Healthcare quality is strong, especially in the north, but English proficiency is more common in private facilities and major cities than in local public clinics.
Environmental risk:
Earthquake and volcanic exposure lower safety scores.
Why it ranks here:
Italy’s environmental risk and regional disparities keep it below Northern Europe.
Can you realistically move here? Yes, for many families and remote earners. Italy offers several long-term residence pathways based on income, self-employment, business ownership, or family ties, though timelines are slow and bureaucracy is heavier than in Northern Europe.
#18 Puerto Rico (tie)
Violent crime:
Violent crime rates are higher than most of Europe and East Asia, but incidents are highly localized and concentrated in specific areas rather than widespread.
Institutions & rule of law:
Puerto Rico benefits from U.S. legal protections and federal oversight, providing predictable rule of law, even as local governance challenges and corruption issues impact efficiency rather than day-to-day personal safety.
Healthcare & emergency care:
Healthcare quality is strong, but many hospitals lack resources. American-trained physicians, reliable emergency care in metro areas, and widespread use of both English and Spanish.
Environmental risk:
Hurricanes pose a recurring and significant risk, with infrastructure resilience varying by region.
Why it ranks here:
Puerto Rico’s strong institutions and healthcare system offset higher localized crime and hurricane exposure, placing it in the upper tier but outside the global top ten.
Can you realistically move here?
Yes. For U.S. citizens, relocation is straightforward, with no prior approval required; for non-U.S. citizens, residency depends on U.S. immigration rules rather than local policy.
#18. Chile (tie)
Violent crime:
Violent crime remains low by global standards, with recent increases concentrated primarily in Santiago and limited urban areas rather than nationwide.
Institutions & rule of law:
Chile has some of Latin America’s strongest institutions, with an independent judiciary, predictable enforcement, and high institutional continuity despite recent political volatility.
Healthcare & emergency care:
Healthcare quality is strong, particularly in the private system, with reliable emergency response in major cities; English proficiency varies and is more common in private facilities.
Environmental risk:
Chile faces significant earthquake risk, though strict building codes, preparedness, and response capacity substantially mitigate safety impacts.
Why it ranks here:
Chile combines low violent crime, strong institutions, and deep healthcare systems, with concentrated urban crime and seismic exposure preventing it from ranking alongside Western Europe.
Can you realistically move here?
Yes—through Chile’s structured residency system, including options tied to business activity, investment, or independent income. Expect formal requirements, in-country processing steps, and significant documentation.
#19. Costa Rica
Violent crime:
Low violent crime relative to Latin America, though not negligible.
Institutions & rule of law:
Stable democracy with reliable institutions.
Healthcare & emergency care:
Costa Rica offers strong healthcare access, with English commonly spoken in private hospitals and expat-focused clinics, while public healthcare settings are primarily Spanish-speaking.
Environmental risk:
Earthquakes, flooding, and hurricanes affect safety.
Why it ranks here:
Costa Rica is one of the safest countries in its region but faces higher environmental risk.
Can you realistically move here? Yes, for many families and remote earners—Costa Rica offers established residency categories based on income, investment, or business activity. Processing can be slow and paperwork-heavy, but long-term residency is realistic with planning.
#20. Slovenia
Violent crime:
Low violent crime and high daily safety.
Institutions & rule of law:
Stable governance and effective institutions.
Healthcare & emergency care:
Good healthcare access for a small country.
Environmental risk:
Moderate environmental exposure.
Why it ranks here:
Slovenia performs well across all factors but lacks the depth of larger systems.
Can you realistically move here? More feasible for EU citizens—non-EU families typically need skilled work sponsorship or family pathways; smaller system means fewer “easy” routes.
#21. Czech Republic
Violent crime:
Low violent crime nationally.
Institutions & rule of law:
Stable institutions with predictable governance contribute to the Global Peace Index.
Healthcare & emergency care:
Solid healthcare access, stronger in urban centers.
Environmental risk:
Flood risk impacts ranking.
Why it ranks here:
Strong overall safety but slightly weaker healthcare and environmental resilience.
Can you realistically move here? Possible but rules-driven—EU citizens have easier paths; non-EU routes usually require work sponsorship or family ties and consistent compliance.
#22. Belgium
Violent crime:
Low violent crime overall, with urban concentration.
Institutions & rule of law:
Strong governance and legal systems.
Healthcare & emergency care:
Excellent healthcare access.
Environmental risk:
Flooding and urban density affect safety.
Why it ranks here:
Belgium remains very safe but is constrained by environmental and urban risks.
Can you realistically move here? Feasible with the right reason—EU citizens have simpler residency; non-EU families often need employer sponsorship or family reunification.
#23. South Korea
Violent crime:
Very low violent crime.
Institutions & rule of law:
Strong institutions with geopolitical exposure.
Healthcare & emergency care:
Healthcare access is excellent, though English-language support is more consistent in major hospitals and urban centers.
Environmental risk:
Seismic exposure and regional tensions affect ranking.
Why it ranks here:
South Korea’s low violent crime, fast emergency response, excellent public transportation, and advanced healthcare system place it among the safest countries globally, with language barriers and regional geopolitical considerations limiting its position just outside the top tier.
Can you realistically move here? Possible, usually through work—long-term residence most commonly comes from employer sponsorship, marriage, or other specific legal categories; language helps a lot.
#24. Estonia
Violent crime:
Low violent crime nationally.
Institutions & rule of law:
Strong governance relative to size.
Healthcare & emergency care:
Adequate healthcare with system scale limitations.
Environmental risk:
Low disaster risk but limited resilience, especially considering factors like climate change.
Why it ranks here:
Estonia is safe but constrained by small-system capacity.
Can you realistically move here? Possible but smaller-scale—routes exist via work, entrepreneurship, and EU rights; being a small country, pathways can be narrower than bigger EU states.
#25. Uruguay
Violent crime:
Low violent crime by regional standards.
Institutions & rule of law:
Strong democratic institutions and legal predictability.
Healthcare & emergency care:
Uruguay provides reliable healthcare access, particularly in Montevideo, though English proficiency among medical staff is limited outside private facilities and expat-oriented clinics.
Environmental risk:
Flooding and climate variability affect safety.
Why it ranks here:
Uruguay is one of Latin America’s safest countries, but its smaller healthcare services, emergency, and institutional systems limit its ability to match the depth and redundancy of higher-ranked global peers.
Can you realistically move here? Yes—Uruguay’s residency system is known for clear rules and openness to families, retirees, and independent earners, though in-country processing and timelines can be slow.
Why Some Very Safe Countries Didn’t Make the Top 25
This ranking evaluates systemic safety, weighted evenly across violent crime, serious crimes, institutions and rule of law, healthcare and emergency care, and environmental risk. Many countries commonly described as “safe” were considered but did not rank in the global top 25 when evaluated strictly across all four factors.
In most cases, the difference is not day-to-day comfort, but how well national systems perform under stress relative to your home country’s standards. Countries were excluded when they excelled in some dimensions but fell meaningfully short in others, such as institutional protections for non-citizens, exposure to natural or geopolitical risk, or overall system depth and redundancy.
Highly safe countries that narrowly missed the Top 25 include: Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Malta, Cyprus, Qatar, and Oman.
This does not mean these countries are unsafe. It means they did not outperform the countries ranked here across all four safety dimensions simultaneously.
Examples of Commonly Assumed “Safe” Countries That Ranked Just Outside the Top 25
Sweden
Sweden remains a high-income, well-functioning society, but rising violent crime trends—particularly gang-related shootings concentrated in urban areas—reduce its overall score under a strict crime-weighted framework, affecting its status as one of the most peaceful countries.
United Arab Emirates
The UAE has extremely low street crime and strong public order, but differences in legal protections for citizens and non-citizens, along with limited institutional transparency, lower its institutional stability score compared with top-ranked countries.
Thailand
Thailand often feels safe in daily life and offers excellent private healthcare in major cities. However, repeated political instability, military intervention in governance, and environmental risks such as flooding, air quality, and heat stress place it outside the global top tier on pure safety.
Malaysia
Malaysia performs solidly across several safety dimensions but does not score strongly enough in institutional stability or environmental risk to rank in the global top 25, placing it near the upper end of the next tier.
Patterns You’ll Notice in the Top 25
- Countries with low violent crime and strong institutions consistently outperform those that rely on one strength alone.
- Environmental risk is the most common factor preventing otherwise safe countries from ranking higher.
- Many countries that feel safe day-to-day rank lower due to systemic risks rather than personal safety concerns.
What This Ranking Does Not Measure
This list does not rank cost of living, ease of immigration, tax policy, lifestyle preferences, or cultural fit. A country can rank extremely high for safety while still being impractical for many families to move to, despite the high quality of life it may offer.
If You’re Deciding Where to Move
- If absolute safety is your priority, the top 5 set the global benchmark.
- If long-term practicality matters more, countries ranked slightly lower may be a better fit.
- If environmental risk concerns you, pay close attention to wildfire and seismic exposure data.
Several of these countries are covered in GLN’s country-specific relocation guides, where safety is evaluated alongside residency options, healthcare access, and family practicality.
For more, consider reading GLN’s Articles:
- Top Places to Live Abroad in 2026 for Families & Remote Work.
- Why Cost-of-Living Rankings Mislead High-Income Families Living Abroad
- Stability vs Safety: Why Institutions Decide Your Stress Level Abroad
- How GLN Defines “Safety” for Families Living Abroad
Final Note on Using This List
The safest countries in the world are not always the easiest to move to. Safety is only one piece of a relocation decision — but it’s a foundational one.
This ranking is designed to answer a narrow, important question honestly:
Where is real-world risk lowest if you live there?
Immigration pathways, cost of living, and family practicality are discussed separately — because clarity matters more than convenience.
What Comes Next?
Safety is only one part of deciding where to live abroad — but it’s a foundational one. By separating safety from cost, lifestyle, and immigration practicality, this guide is designed for general informational purposes to help you see the global landscape clearly before narrowing your options.
If you’re considering a move abroad and want help translating rankings like this into real-world decisions — from choosing the right country to understanding residency pathways and on-the-ground realities — Global Living Network exists to do exactly that.
Explore our country guides, join our newsletter, or connect with GLN to plan your next chapter with clarity instead of guesswork.