Top 10 safest countries to live in the world

The UN reports that about a third of the world’s population feel unsafe walking alone at night in their own neighborhoods.

A new study by a loan company analyzed safety and livability global data to identify which nations offer the safest living conditions and where residents can enjoy the highest quality of life.

The research examined countries using nine metrics, including Safety Index, Quality of Life Index, Cost of Living Index, Global Peace Index, Purchasing Power Index, Healthcare Index, Property Price to Income Ratio, Traffic Commute Time Index, and Employment Rate.

From the original dataset of 90 countries, only the top 20 performers qualified for the final ranking, with each country required to achieve a Safety Index above 70 to ensure all featured nations meet exceptionally high safety standards.

The United Arab Emirates claims the first place with a 100/100 Safe to Live Index score and the highest Safety Index at 84.5. The UAE shows a 97.3% employment rate and strong quality of life metrics. The country’s low Property Price to Income Ratio also makes it financially accessible despite its developed economy status.

Singapore secures second place, positioning itself as Asia’s safest living destination. Singapore combines a 96.8 Safe to Live Index score with the lowest Global Peace Index score. The city-state also maintains a 96.5% employment rate while offering a high Healthcare Index score.

Iceland takes third place with the best Global Peace Index score, making it the world’s most peaceful nation. The Nordic country also has a low Property Price to Income Ratio and minimal traffic congestion rates. Overall, Iceland shows a 93.5 Safe to Live Index score.

Taiwan holds fourth place. Taiwan’s 90.3 Safe to Live Index is supported by strong healthcare (86.5 Healthcare Index – the highest in the top 10) and high employment rates at 96.3%. The country also offers relatively affordable living costs.

Japan ranks fifth with the highest employment rate of 97.4% among the top 10 countries. The nation combines an 87.1 Safe to Live Index with reasonable living costs and the best Quality of Life metrics in the list.

Slovenia secures sixth place as the highest-ranking European Union member. The country has affordable living and maintains high employment rates at 96.4%. Slovenia also stands out with its Global Peace ranking. This results in an 84.0 Safe to Live Index.

Switzerland takes seventh place and posts the highest Purchasing Power Index. Despite the equally highest Cost of Living Index, Switzerland demonstrates strong safety levels and achieves an 81.0 Safe to Live Index.

The Czech Republic holds eighth place, offering the lowest Cost of Living Index among the top 10. The country matches Japan’s employment rate at 97.4% while keeping solid safety standards, totaling a 78.0 Safe to Live Index.

Denmark ranks ninth as the second Nordic country in the top 10. Denmark has a 75.1 Safe to Live Index and claims the second-highest Quality of Life Index. The Scandinavian country stands out with strong purchasing power and a high healthcare score.

Netherlands completes the top 10 with a 72.3 Safe to Live Index and the highest Quality of Life Index among all countries analyzed. The Netherlands positions well in the healthcare index and shows high employment rates at 96.4%, along with low traffic congestion.

“Safety is the primary consideration for international relocation and investment decisions,” says the loan company spokesperson. “Our analysis of over 80 countries worldwide reveals that true safety requires a comprehensive combination of political stability, economic security, healthcare access, and quality infrastructure. The fact that only 20 countries achieved our minimum Safety Index threshold of 70 demonstrates how rare it is to find genuinely safe living environments. Countries like Singapore show how strategic investments in security, healthcare, and economic stability can create environments where residents can confidently build their lives.”

Here’s a look at the top 10 safest countries to live in:

You can access the complete research findings HERE.