New report ranks 15 safest countries to travel to

From war to terrorism to civil war, the world faces turmoil on many fronts. In May 2024, the U.S. State Department issued a worldwide alert warning travelers about the increased risk of terrorism, protests, and violence. But despite these challenges, global travel is booming. According to a recent report from the United Nations World Tourism Organization, international travel in 2024 is already up 11% compared to 2023 and could be on track to surpass pre-pandemic levels.

But navigating the complexities of this changing world requires care, and it's more important than ever for travelers to stay informed about which countries are truly safe. So which countries are the safest to visit? Find out the answer in Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection's (BHTP) 7th Annual Report on the World's Safest Countries in 2025. You can find it.

For this annual ranking, BHTP evaluated the 42 most popular countries using numerous third-party sources ranking popular destinations. BHTP surveyed American travelers about their travel experiences and combined their opinions with data from many sources, including the Global Peace Index, Numbeo, and GeoSure Global. These insights helped the company rank countries based on crime, terrorism risk, healthcare systems, and more. “We combine this data with our survey results to calculate a weighted score that reflects each country’s overall safety,” Carol Muller, vice president of BHTP, told me in an interview. “The rankings displayed reflect weighted scores.”

However, BHTP warns that its list of safest countries does not include random acts of terrorism or natural disasters. “It also does not mean that any particular country is currently safe or that any region of the country is as safe as any other,” the report's authors wrote. . “Israel is a perfect example. Tourists who visit this country say it's safe, but they probably don't want to visit right now.”

So which country will be the safest in 2025? Iceland tops the list, marking a notable jump from last year, when it was ranked 9th. Despite recent natural disasters (volcanic eruptions, ice cave collapses), Iceland has a low crime rate, is peaceful and has a small population. Berkshire Hathaway says the country's single major road also means there are fewer traffic concerns, contributing to safety. “Logically speaking, if there is no traffic volume, road accidents are less likely to occur,” the report's authors wrote. And while volcanic eruptions remain a concern, Berkshire Hathaway says, “You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone more giddy about this eruption than Icelanders.”

Mueller said survey respondents' rankings of countries on attributes such as safety from violent crime, safety in transportation, health care, safety for women and people of color, and safety from terrorism show that Iceland is ranked high, but not at the top. “What really worked was when other measures were taken into account,” Moller said. “For example, GeoSure Global, a provider of travel safety apps, found that Icelandic cities are very safe in all aspects. Namveo was given a high rating for its low crime rate. The World Peace Index It has a high reputation for having low levels of militarization and incarceration, and also takes into account the fact that it has retained these characteristics over time.

Australia ranks second in this year's list of safest countries due to its remote location and low crime rate. But Berkshire Hathaway warns travelers to be wary of the country's wildlife, from poisonous jellyfish to dangerous alligators.

Canada topped the list last year, but will fall to third place in 2025. Berkshire Hathaway said the destination has low crime due to its low population density and vast expanses of nature, but travelers should be wary of encounters with wildlife such as bears in national parks. are. Moose on the Trans-Canada Highway.

Ireland, ranked fourth this year, is a safe and welcoming destination, but Berkshire Hathaway says travelers should prepare for the challenge of driving on the left side of narrow roads.

Rounding out the top five is Switzerland, known for its orderly cities and efficient infrastructure. But Berkshire Hathaway warns that the country's high mountains are becoming more dangerous as avalanches and landslides become more frequent as the climate changes.

Major changes to this year's list include New Zealand returning to the top 10 from 11th place last year, rising to 6th place. Berkshire Hathaway points to isolated locations and strict biosecurity measures as helping to curb crime. Another country making great strides is Germany. It has moved up from 18th place last year to 7th place. According to Berkshire Hathaway, Berkshire Hathaway's cities continue to rank high for safety, and rural areas are even safer.

Notable ranking declines include the United Kingdom (down from 6th in 2024 to 13th in 2025) and the Netherlands (down from 5th to 14th, largely due to concerns about urban drug policy). It will be.

And once again, the United States is not on the list of the top 15 safest countries in the world. “In general, the U.S. does better using rankings of survey respondents alone than it does when additional measures are taken into account,” Mueller said. “Over the past four years, when all metrics (surveys and external data) are considered, the average ranking of the United States is 20.5. Using only survey results, the average ranking of the United States is 19.5.”

In addition to the overall list, Berkshire Hathaway's report also delves into specific categories of safety, highlighting top performers in areas such as crime prevention, transportation, and health systems. . The company also creates lists for women, LGBTQ+ travelers, and more.

And this year, for the first time, Berkshire Hathaway created the Safe Travel Hall of Fame, which recognizes countries that have ranked in the top 10 on average since the company began ranking safest places in 2018.

Read about the list of the 15 safest countries in the world to travel to, as well as some partial lists and halls of fame.

Ranking: 15 safest countries to travel to in the world

Here is the overall list of safest countries in 2025:

Iceland Australia Canada Ireland Switzerland New Zealand Germany Norway Japan Denmark Portugal Spain United Kingdom Netherlands Sweden

Ranking: safest countries from violent crime

Berkshire Hathaway's list also reveals which countries are performing best in specific areas. Here's a look at the statistically safest places in the world when it comes to violent crime.

Norway Canada Australia Ireland Iceland New Zealand United Arab Emirates Germany Italy Portugal

Ranking: safest countries from terrorism

According to a report by Berkshire Hathaway, the UAE is the safest country when it comes to terrorism. “This is the first time the United Arab Emirates has topped the safety sector,” the report's authors wrote.

United Arab Emirates Canada Ireland New Zealand Australia Norway Iceland Japan Switzerland Portugal

Ranking: safest countries for transport safety

According to Berkshire Hathaway, this year's No. 1 and No. 2 transportation companies have one thing in common. It is “a road that runs through hundreds of miles of sparsely populated areas.”

Canada Australia New Zealand Ireland Denmark Germany Japan Iceland Italy Portugal

Ranking: Safest countries for health measures

Berkshire Hathaway ranks countries with the most developed and efficient health care delivery systems.

Canada Norway New Zealand Ireland Italy Australia Iceland Germany United Arab Emirates Portugal

Ranking: Safest countries for women, LGBTQIA+ travelers, and people of color

Berkshire Hathaway has created a safety list for women, LGBTQ+ travelers, and people of color. When you add all three together, it looks like this. Costa Rica enters the top 10 list for the first time.

New Zealand Canada Ireland Australia United Kingdom Costa Rica Iceland Norway Germany Italy

Safest Country: Hall of Fame

Although the top 15 safest countries change from year to year, certain destinations consistently score high in safety. Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection has created a Hall of Fame to recognize countries that have maintained a top 10 ranking since 2018. Here is the list: In no particular order.

• Switzerland

• Australia

• Canada

• new zealand

• Iceland

• Norway

• Ireland

• Japan

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