Safety is one of those travel factors that never fully leaves the conversation. You might be planning a simple city break or a long-haul digital-nomad stretch, but the question pops up every time: “Is it safe?” The world has changed, but the importance of feeling secure hasn’t—and in 2025, travelers are increasingly relying on data instead of assumptions.

That’s why HelloSafe’s 2025 Travel Safety Index is interesting. It scores each country on a scale from 0 (safest) to 100 (least safe), creating an easy, comparable snapshot of global conditions. And this year’s results confirm some patterns while completely overturning others.

Europe Dominates the Top of the Safety Rankings

Europe remains the world’s safest region overall. And sitting comfortably at the top—again—is Iceland, with a score of 18.23. The country continues to be a poster child for low crime, strong institutions, and high social trust. Singapore follows closely with 19.99, reinforcing its reputation for order and security, and Denmark isn’t far behind with 20.05.

What stands out is the density of European countries in the top tier. Twelve of the top fifteen safest destinations are in Europe: Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Finland, Ireland, and Portugal all appear in the list, supported by long-term stability data from sources like the Global Peace Index and OECD institutional trust indicators. These aren’t short-term trends—they’re consistent, long-standing safety environments.

Two exceptions among the top fifteen—Bhutan and Qatar—have strong governance, low violent crime rates, and controlled borders, helping them outperform much larger and more visited destinations.

France’s Lower Position Raises Eyebrows

One of the most talked-about results is France’s ranking. It places 80th globally and 34th in Europe, scoring 36 points. That puts it behind both Spain (32) and Italy (33), which often get a rougher narrative in popular conversation.

Why the gap? HelloSafe’s index reflects measurable factors: ongoing terrorism alerts, periodic urban unrest, and the heavy security posture associated with major events. It doesn’t mean France is dangerous for visitors—it remains one of the world’s most visited destinations—but when boiled down to cold statistical risk, France sits lower than many travelers might guess.

At the very bottom of Europe’s rankings—and of the global index—are Ukraine and Russia. Their low scores are consistent with all major global safety reports, reflecting the continued impact of the conflict that began in 2022.

Latin America Shows a Split Between Strong Performers and High-Risk Zones

Latin America often gets painted with one broad brush, but the HelloSafe data offers a much more layered story.

Paraguay and Uruguay emerge as the region’s two safest countries. Uruguay in particular has been recognized for years for its political stability, effective policing, and relatively low violent crime rate—factors that also appear in UNODC statistics and AmericasBarometer governance surveys.

Trinidad and Tobago and Bolivia also score relatively well, showing that parts of the region offer far safer environments than commonly assumed.

But at the opposite end of the spectrum, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela remain among the highest-risk destinations due to high homicide rates, cartel-linked violence, internal displacement, and militarization. These structural issues are deeply documented in regional crime reports, and while these countries still attract millions of tourists, their safety challenges are reflected clearly in the index.

The 15 Safest Countries in the World in 2025

1. Iceland – 18.23

2. Singapore – 19.99

3. Denmark – 20.05

4. Austria – 20.31

5. Switzerland – 20.51

6. Czech Republic – 21.19

7. Slovenia – 21.44

8. Finland – 21.81

9. Ireland – 22.49

10. Hungary – 22.87

11. Bhutan – 22.98

12. Qatar – 23.33

13. Slovakia – 23.90

14. Estonia – 24.63

15. Portugal – 25.01

Conclusion

Safety rankings like HelloSafe’s don’t exist in a vacuum. They sit alongside long-established data sources such as the Global Peace Index, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and OECD confidence indicators—and across all of these, the same patterns show up: Europe performs consistently well, small well-governed nations outperform large ones, and Latin America remains a region of extremes.

What’s changing is how travelers use this data. Safety indexes aren’t just academic anymore—they influence insurance premiums, digital nomad relocation decisions, flight route planning, and even eSIM provider marketing strategies. As travel becomes more digital, travelers compare destinations the same way they compare hotels, mobile plans, or connectivity tools: through measurable indicators, not gut feeling.

In 2025, safety is becoming a transparent, data-driven part of trip planning. And that means destinations with strong institutional stability will leverage this advantage more than ever, while those lower in the rankings will need to work harder to build trust, improve infrastructure, and communicate real-time support to travelers.