The safest — and most dangerous — countries for travel in 2024

Looking to travel safe in 2024? Pack extra layers.

A flurry of colder countries have been named most secure in an annual study conducted by risk assessment firm International SOS.

Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, Switzerland and Denmark froze out the competition, earning the safest designation on the organization’s global Travel Risk Maps.

The map authors take into account countries’ security levels, based on the threat posed to employees by political violence (including terrorism, insurgency, politically motivated unrest and war), social unrest (including sectarian, communal and ethnic violence) and violent and petty crime.

Struggling with all of the above — and failing to make the grade — were South Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya and Somalia. Countries like Afghanistan and Syria have frequently taken home the dubious honor; Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories and Russia are more recent recipients.

Iceland was ranked the overall safest country in the world due to its “insignificant security risk” because they have low violent crime rates, no political violence and little sectarian, communal, racial, or targeted violence against foreigners, along with several other factors.

Meanwhile, South Sudan, at the top of the list for the most dangerous place in the world according to the site, is described as an “extreme security risk.” Government control and minimal law enforcement across large areas is cited as cause. There’s also a serious threat of “violent attacks by armed groups targeting travelers and international assignees.”

For the first time, 2024’s Travel Risk Map includes climate change as a factor.

The risk assessment firm has reported a rise in the trend of climate-related alerts issued, as rising global temperatures are said to be increasing health risks worldwide.

“The extreme heat events this year, with the first ever named heatwave hitting Europe, may become commonplace. In addition to the physical impacts of extreme heat, there can be significant negative effects on mental health,” said Dr.Irene Lai, Global Medical Director at International SOS.

“It is essential businesses plan for this, adapting our way of living and working to protect health, while also taking steps to slow and eventually reverse the trend in rising temperatures,” Dr. Lai said.

5 safest countries in 2024

• Iceland
• Luxembourg
• Norway
• Switzerland
• Denmark

5 most dangerous countries in 2024

• South Sudan
• Afghanistan
• Syria
• Libya
• Somalia