The most dangerous countries in the world to visit in 2021 have been revealed in the latest Travel Risk Map
Now in its 12th year, the Travel Risk Map is an interactive tool produced by security specialists at International SOS. It is used to predict the safest and, conversely, the least safe countries in the world.
The map comprises three sections: medical, security and road safety. For the security section, countries are indexed according to their travel security risk rating, which uses five risk definitions: insignificant, low, medium, high and extreme.
International SOS uses a number of criteria to assess how the conditions in the country may impact visitors’ safety and security. These include the threat posed to travellers by political violence (including terrorism, insurgency, politically motivated unrest and war), social unrest (including sectarian, communal and ethnic violence) and violent and petty crime.
Other factors assessed include transport infrastructure, the capability of security and emergency services, and the threat of natural disasters. It’s also possible to use the map to assess medical risk and road safety standards around the world.
MOST DANGEROUS COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD
These are the nine most dangerous countries in the world according to International SOS. They have been assessed as carrying an ‘extreme travel security risk’.
A further six countries include regions (known as Security Risk Zones) that have been rated as an ‘extreme travel security risk’.
“Government control and law and order may be minimal or non-existent across large areas. Serious threat of violent attacks by armed groups targeting travellers and international assignees. Government and transport services are barely functional. Large parts of the country are inaccessible to foreigners.”
International SOS
SAFEST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD
At the other end of the spectrum, the following 18 countries have been assessed as carrying an ‘insignificant travel security risk’ to travellers and therefore the safest countries to visit.
“Rates of violent crime are very low. There is no significant political violence or civil unrest and little sectarian, communal, racial or targeted violence against foreigners. Security and emergency services are effective and infrastructure is sound. Transport services are of a high standard with good safety records and only occasional travel disruption. Industrial action affecting essential services is rare.”
International SOS
Complete rankings
Most countries in Europe along with the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Canada have been assessed as carrying a ‘low travel security risk’. Ukraine is the only European country categorised as a ‘high’ or ‘extreme’ security risk.
Many countries in Asia and the Middle East including Jordan, Oman, Singapore, Japan, China, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei are considered ‘low risk’. The most dangerous countries in Asia are Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Syria, Iraq and Yemen in the Middle East.
The most dangerous countries in Africa are Central African Republic, Libya, Mali, Somalia and South Sudan. In the Americas, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras and Venezuela are considered ‘high security risk’.
Some countries fall into more than one category where certain regions within a country carry differing security risks.
| Extreme (14) | Afghanistan Central African Republic DR Congo (SRZ) Egypt (SRZ) Iraq Libya Mali Nigeria (SRZ) Pakistan (SRZ) Somalia South Sudan Syria Ukraine (SRZ) Yemen |
| High (13) | Burkina Faso Chad DR Congo Egypt El Salvador Haiti Honduras Mauritania Nigeria Pakistan Papua New Guinea Ukraine Venezuela |
| Medium (68) | Algeria Angola Bahrain Bangladesh Belize Bolivia Brazil Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Colombia Comoros Congo Costa Rica Djibouti Dominican Republic East Timor Eritrea Ethiopia Fiji Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana India India Indonesia Iran Israel Ivory Coast Jamaica Kazakhstan Kenya Korea, North Kosovo Kyrgyzstan Laos Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Madagascar Mexico Mongolia Mozambique Myanmar Nepal Nicaragua Niger Peru Philippines Russia Saudi Arabia Sierra Leone Solomon Islands South Africa Sri Lanka Sudan Swaziland (Eswatini) Tajikistan Tanzania Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Uganda Ukraine Zimbabwe |
| Low (91) | Albania Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Barbados Belarus Belgium Benin Bhutan Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brunei Bulgaria Canada Chile China Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Dominica Ecuador Equatorial Guinea Estonia France Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Hungary Ireland Italy Japan Jordan Korea, South Kuwait Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Macedonia Malawi Malaysia Maldives Malta Mauritius Moldova Monaco Montenegro Morocco Namibia Netherlands New Zealand Oman Panama Paraguay Poland Portugal Qatar Romania Rwanda Saint Kitts & Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Senegal Serbia Singapore Slovakia Spain Suriname Sweden Thailand Tonga UAE United Kingdom United States Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City Vietnam Zambia |
| Insignificant (18) | Andorra Cape Verde Denmark Finland Greenland Iceland Kiribati Luxembourg Marshall Islands Micronesia Nauru Norway Palau Seychelles Slovenia Switzerland Turks & Caicos Tuvalu |
The full interactive map by International SOS can be accessed here.
More rankings and articles can be found in our remote work area:
► Best cities in the world
► Countries with the best healthcare in the world
► World’s worst countries to drive in
► Most peaceful countries in the world
► Best countries for women
► Poorest countries in the world – ranked
► Happiest countries in the world
► World’s most powerful passport
► Countries with the fastest internet in the world
► Most stressed countries in the world
► Most expensive cities for expats
► World’s most democratic countries
Enjoyed this post? pin it for later…
