Why there’s no one-size-fits-all list
Tourist risk is layered: armed conflict, violent crime, terrorism, political instability, disaster exposure, medical and road safety, sanitary threats, and legal/discrimination factors. A country can be safe in resort belts yet risky in borderlands; a “peaceful” nation may still have deadly roads. A multi-parameter approach with weights is the only honest way to compare destinations.

Methodology (in brief)
We combine public peace and safety indices into a composite view: — Conflict and political violence (warfare, clashes, mass unrest).
— Violent crime and homicide.
— Terrorism and kidnapping exposure.
— Natural hazard risk and infrastructure resilience.
— Health threats (malaria, dengue, food/water safety).
— Transport and road safety.
— Access to quality medical care and emergency response.
— Legal risks and vulnerability of specific groups (e.g., LGBTQ+).
War/violent crime carry the heaviest weight, but route, season, and traveler profile shape the final risk.

Where risk is systemically high (top tier)
Countries with persistently high travel risk in 2024–2025: Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, Sudan and South Sudan, Somalia, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo (especially the east), Mali and Burkina Faso (the Sahel), Libya, Iraq (select provinces), the Palestinian Territories (notably Gaza), Myanmar, Haiti, and frontline areas of Ukraine. These combine active conflict/insurgency, elevated terrorism and kidnapping risk, weak medical access, and unpredictable movement. Many governments advise “Do Not Travel” or “Avoid all travel” to these areas.

High criminal risk without full-scale war
Some destinations face intense street and violent crime rather than war: Haiti (extreme gang control in the capital), Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago (high homicide and armed robbery rates), Venezuela (armed robbery, strained security services), parts of Mexico (cartel activity), Ecuador (sharp violence surge in 2023–2024), South Africa (elevated violent crime), Honduras and historically El Salvador—though El Salvador has recently reduced street violence. In all such cases, risk is highly area-specific; resort and business districts are far safer than city fringes and border corridors.

Regional notes
— Middle East & North Africa: from stable UAE, Oman, and Morocco to conflict zones in Yemen, Syria, Libya, and parts of Iraq/the Palestinian Territories.
— Sub-Saharan Africa: elevated risks in the Sahel and Somalia; Kenya, Tanzania, Namibia, Botswana, and Rwanda are comparatively stable, with wildlife and road safety as key considerations.
— The Americas: the Caribbean is mixed (Jamaica/Haiti high risk, Barbados/Curaçao low); Mexico varies by state; Brazil and Colombia are city- and behavior-dependent.
— Europe: generally safe, with war risks in frontline Ukrainian regions; EU cities face pickpocketing and occasional unrest.
— Asia: very high risk in Afghanistan and Myanmar; localized risks in Pakistan’s borderlands, Thailand’s deep south (Pattani, etc.), and remote parts of the Philippines. Japan and Singapore are exceptionally safe crime-wise, though Japan is seismically active.
— Oceania: broadly safe; exception — Papua New Guinea (violent crime in some areas).

Disasters and seasonality
Natural hazards can magnify risk in otherwise peaceful countries. The Philippines, Bangladesh, and coastal India face cyclones and flooding; Indonesia, Japan, Turkey, and Nepal are earthquake-prone; the Caribbean and Gulf have a June–November hurricane season. Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East increasingly see extreme heat and wildfires in summer. Time your trip against the hazard calendar.

Health and transport: the quiet killers
Even in calm countries, top tourist killers are road crashes, drowning, and cardiac events. Road mortality tends to be higher where enforcement is weak (parts of Africa and Southeast Asia, some Latin American states). Sanitary risks include malaria (tropical Africa, parts of Oceania), dengue (SEA, Central/South America), hepatitis, and diarrheal disease. In remote areas, time to competent care is the make-or-break variable.

Top 15 higher-risk destinations (2025)
– Afghanistan — armed conflict, terrorism/kidnapping risk, limited medical care.
– Yemen — active warfare, humanitarian crisis, landmine threats.
– Syria — ongoing clashes, fragmented territorial control.
– Sudan — large-scale fighting since 2023, instability in cities and regions.
– South Sudan — interethnic violence, armed groups, weak infrastructure.
– Somalia — terrorism, coastal piracy, limited central control.
– Central African Republic — armed groups; unsafe roads beyond the capital.
– DR Congo (east) — insurgency, crime, sporadic outbreaks, complex logistics.
– Mali — Sahel escalation, IEDs and ambushes on highways.
– Burkina Faso — rising attacks, travel restrictions outside cities.
– Libya — fragmented authority, periodic fighting, landmines.
– Iraq (select provinces) — residual terrorism/militia risk, mines/UXO.
– Palestinian Territories (esp. Gaza) — high-intensity hostilities and blockade.
– Myanmar — civil war, checkpoints, ambushes.
– Haiti — gang control in the capital, kidnappings, limited services.

Mixed-risk countries
— Mexico: from safe resort belts to high-risk border states; cartel violence outside tourist zones.
— Brazil: varies by city/district; armed robbery is the main threat, especially after dark.
— South Africa: elevated violent crime; CBDs and some townships require extra caution.
— Nigeria: localized conflict and kidnapping in the north and Niger Delta; big cities are mixed.
— Türkiye: resorts are generally safe; earthquake risk and caution near the Syrian border.
— Philippines and Indonesia: natural hazards plus localized insurgency; mainstream resorts are safer.

Safest for mainstream tourism
Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Portugal, Slovenia, Finland, Canada, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand, and Ireland pair low crime with strong institutions, quality healthcare, and resilient infrastructure. Risks remain (petty theft, weather, seismic activity), but they’re predictable and manageable with basic discipline.

Reducing personal risk
— Check fresh government advisories before booking and when moving within a country.
— Plan by district, not “the whole country”; align with hazard seasonality.
— Buy medical insurance with evacuation and activity coverage.
— Keep a low profile: no flashy gear; use licensed app-based taxis.
— Protect documents and funds: split cards/cash; carry copies.
— Respect local law and norms; know specific legal/discrimination risks.
— Avoid “red zones” — prudence beats bravado.

Bottom line
A danger ranking isn’t a verdict; it’s a planning tool. Use it to match your dream to reality: pick the right region and season, add insurance and time buffers, and tune your on-the-ground behavior. With that, “hard” places become intelligible, and “safe” ones truly safer.