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Worldly | Which are the safest and most dangerous countries in Europe?

In this worldly In this article we are going to talk about security in Europe. Which are the safest and most dangerous countries in Europe in 2020? This article contains both a top 10 with safe and dangerous countries in Europe† The rankings in this article were created through multiple sources and security analyzes published at the end of 2020. visionofhumanity.org is one of those sources. They annually publish large-scale, global safety analyzes based on the Global Peace Index (GPI). The GPI is an annual ranking of countries prepared by the Institute for Economics and Peace (ELM). IEP assesses security in the countries based on various criteria, including general security, (armed) conflict, crime rates and attacks.

GPI Gobal Peace | safest countries in Europe | Wereldreizigers.nl
Global Peace Index report | 2020 | Source Visionofhumanity.org

The lower the number of points, the better the country or region ranks. The full PDF report has no less than 107 pages and is here download.

Also read: Which are the safest and most dangerous countries in Central America?
Also read: Which are the safest and most dangerous countries in Europe?
Also read: Which are the safest and most dangerous countries in Africa?

Europe most peaceful

gpi global peace index europe | safest countries in Europe | Wereldreizigers.nl
Source Visionofhumanity.org

Also read: Worldly | 7 continents or continents – Everything you need to know


To begin: Europe is and will remain the most peaceful region in the world this year† However, a slight deterioration in peacefulness has been noted in the GPI of 2020. Sixteen countries registered improvements in peacefulness, 19 countries registered deteriorations. European countries account for 17 of the top 25 countries in the global GPI of 2020, with Iceland as the country with the best score in both Europe and Worldwide. Turkey is the only European country that is in the top 25 most dangerous countries in the world. Globally, there are 81 risers, countries that are doing better, and 80 losers, countries that are doing worse.

GPI 2020 | safest countries in Europe | Wereldreizigers.nl
GPI Results, 2020 | Source Visionofhumanity.org

Political and economic unrest in Europe

Despite Europe being the most peaceful region in the world, Europe has experienced political and economic turmoil in the past year. Poland has witnessed public mass rallies and protests against the government's controversial law allowing government interference in the courts, while in Romania protesters took to the streets for months to demonstrate against corruption. Mass protests also broke out in HungaryThere, the government introduced a new labor market law, referred to by protesters as "The Slave Act."

The 'yellow vest' protests in France also reached a peak, these protests were not always peaceful and some people even died.

COVID-19 pandemic

More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic the Schengen Agreement temporarily inoperative. European countries hint un-European chaos, especially the VK, Italy en Spain† The full extent of the economic and political impact of the pandemic remains to be seen, but relations between countries in Europe are tense to say the least, partly due to the disagreement and unclear European approach to the virus.

Top 10 safest countries in Europe

1. Iceland | GPI score: 1.078

The scores of Iceland remain strong. Iceland is and remains for the 12th year in a row (since 2008) the safest country in Europe and even in the world. At the same time, Iceland has been one of the healthiest countries financially since the economic crisis of 2008 and the country has seen a significant increase in the number of tourists visiting the country year on year.

Also read: Top 10 Volcanoes in Iceland | Otherworldly, impressive and active

Iceland, the safest country in Europe and also the world.
Iceland, the safest country in Europe and also the world.

juicy detail: Iceland it is only country in the world which actually punished the criminal practices before and during the economic crisis in 2008. Several top executives in the banking world have been convicted and put behind bars for a long time. Subsequently, laws were also passed that prevent only men running the 'boardrooms' in both business and politics. By law, a minimum of 40% of every senior position in the country must be held by women.

According to many, this law is the founder of Iceland's success over the past 12 years. Documentary producer Michael Moore visited Iceland in 2016 and spoke with some high-ranking women about the crisis and the positive changes the country has gone through. The whole 15-minute piece 'Women of Iceland' is definitely worth watching.

2. Portugal | GPI score 1.247

Portugal is a country that is rising at an unprecedented rate in the ranking of the safest countries in the world. In 2000, the Portuguese government took a drastic decision† All forms of drug use were decriminalized. 20 years later, the results are positive across the board. The number of addicts has decreased enormously, as has the associated crime. Anyone who is addicted or uses drugs and who breaks the law is obliged to register in a clinic. With this method, the country has managed to get the major drug problems under control in a very short time. A lot of money has gone into actually helping people, rather than simply locking them up.

Also read: Must Sees in Portugal | Beautiful beaches, cities and culture

Portugal is one of the safest countries in Europe
Portugal is one of the safest countries in Europe

Overall, this drastic decision has triggered a wave of positive developments in the country. Portugal has gone from one of the most unsafe countries in just 20 years to one of the safest countries in Europe. A great achievement that also saved them billions. The costs of guaranteeing safety have fallen drastically.

3. Austria | GPI Score 1.275

Austria has been a very stable country for years. The country has hovered in the top 5 safest countries in Europe for more than a decade. There is hardly any crime. The green, beautiful nature seems to have a calming effect on its inhabitants and travelers always feel at ease here, even in the larger cities.

Also read: Top 3 | The coolest winter sports destinations in Europe

austria safe countries europe | safest countries in Europe | Wereldreizigers.nl
Worldly wise | What are the safest and most dangerous countries in Europe? 28

Austria is not only a wonderful country to live in, it is also a carefree country for travelers with a lot of beautiful things to see.

4. Denmark| GPI Score 1.283

Denmark has always been one of the safest and also 'undercover' countries in Europe and certainly on the world stage it is economically and authoritarianly small. Apart from a few football successes, the country has always remained a bit to itself. Denmark does not interfere with others and vice versa. In any case, this is bearing fruit for the inhabitants. Denmark will once again be one of the safest countries in Europe and rightly so in 2020.

Also read: Round trip Scandinavia | An unforgettable journey from fjord to smørrebrød

denmark safe countries europe | safest countries in Europe | Wereldreizigers.nl
Worldly wise | What are the safest and most dangerous countries in Europe? 29

Life in Denmark is generally quiet, the small country excels in safety on the streets and in general women there also dare to walk alone late at night. Denmark is relaxed with good facilities, both for living and traveling.

5. Czech Republic | GPI Score 1.337

An unexpected newcomer in the top 5 safe countries in Europe is Czech Republic† The country was not even in the top 12 in the world just 20 years ago – in 2020 the country is 6th in the world ranking and 5th in Europe when it comes to safety. According to experts, the main reason is the rapidly growing economic prosperity.

Also read: Eastern Europe | The 'Eastern Bloc' is so much hipper than you think!

Czech Republic, in the top 2020 safe countries in Europe in 5
Czech Republic, in the top 2020 safe countries in Europe in 5

Accession to the EU and left-wing governments that have mainly focused on security and social safety nets are at the root of this growth. More freedoms and open borders with Europe have given the people a taste of the new Czech Republic. Crime has fallen, the conflict with Slovakia seems to be a thing of the past and the country has also been booming in recent years in terms of tourism.

6. Switzerland | GPI Score 1.366

Switzerland is doing just fine, just like in previous years. In terms of safety, the country is in 6th place in Europe and in the world ranking it is in 10th place. Switzerland has a rugged landscape, a few large cities and, unlike the Czech Republic, interferes as little as possible with Europe or the rest of the world. . However, Switzerland has been having a hard time in recent years, with increasing pressure from outside to provide more insight into the country's well-known hidden banking affairs.

Also read: Bungee jumping | 10 spots to fall down at

Switzerland, still one of the safest countries in Europe
Switzerland, still one of the safest countries in Europe

According to researchers, there is much more large-scale crime in the country than you might suspect. However, this mainly concerns financial crime behind closed doors that you as a resident or tourist hardly notice. Although Switzerland has fallen 2 places in the past year, it can still rightly call itself one of the safest countries in both Europe and the world.

7. Slovenia | GPI Score 1.369

It is that in Slovenia the capital Ljubljana scores relatively poorly, which means that the national average has dropped somewhat. Without the capital, the country would certainly have ended up in the top 5 safest countries in Europe. Slovenia is very similar in nature and inhabitants to Austria.

Lake Bled, Slovenia
Lake Bled, Slovenia

The mountains are perhaps slightly less high, the inhabitants are generally fond of nature and are usually found outside a lot. Tourism in Slovenia has grown enormously, especially in recent decades, and economic prosperity brings prosperity. In the last 10 years Slovenia has risen by no less than 5 places in the ranking.

8. Ireland | GPI score 1.375

Ireland went through rough times in the 70s, 80s and 90s. There were attacks, the IRA caused death and destruction and there were severe economic problems. You see little of these problems in 2020. Over the past two decades, Ireland seems to be getting better and better. Dublin is an immensely popular city ​​trip city ​​and tourism in the country continues to grow.

Security in Ireland has improved in recent years
Security in Ireland has improved in recent years

The Irish are generally a self-contained nation and do everything exactly differently from England. They may be neighboring countries, but they have very little in common in terms of culture, safety and tourism. Crime rates in Ireland continue to break records in recent years, in a positive sense that is.

9. Finland | GPI score 1.404

Despite relatively high unemployment rates in Finland (7,5%), the country is still doing very well. Slowly but surely, the country is increasingly distancing itself from Russia, which used to be mainly in charge here. Finland is a huge country with only 5,5 million inhabitants. There is hardly any crime, probably because there are hardly any large cities outside Helsinki.

Husky tour in Finnish Lapland
Husky tour in Finnish Lapland

Finland has also welcomed more and more tourists in recent years, especially in Finnish Lapland. The population is very receptive, hospitable and helpful. The country is also perfect for spotting the northern Lights and as a tourist you can generally stay here late and alone on the street.

10. Sweden | GPI score 1.479

Sweden, the country of which Dutch people usually think it is the safest country in Europe. Yes, Sweden is still a very safe country for residents and world travelers alike and is therefore still just in the top 10.

Sweden drops in the ranking of the safest countries
Sweden drops in the ranking of the safest countries

However, Sweden has seen better days. In 2009, Sweden was still in 5th place worldwide, in 2020 Sweden has to make do with 10th place in Europe and 14th place in the world ranking. The country has declined in recent years. The main cause is the increase in extreme right-wing groups that do not like Europe, foreigners and everything that is different from what they are traditionally used to. However, Sweden can still call itself one of the safest countries in Europe.

And what about the Netherlands?

By now you must be wondering where The Netherlands position itself in terms of security in Europe. After all, we are used to our sober country and it feels super safe here. However, the statistics show a different picture. The Netherlands dropped no less than 5 places this year and is now in 21st place in the world with a GPI score of 1.528† At the European level we have also dropped one place and are currently in 14th place. We have to Norway (#13, GPI score 1.496), Belgium (#12, GPI score 1.496) and Germany (#11, GPI score 1.494) also pass us by. It should be clear that it is all very close together. We are talking about 2 to 3 decimal places here!

The Netherlands has not been in the top 10 safest countries for several years now
The Netherlands has not been in the top 10 safest countries for several years now

The cause of the sinking of the Netherlands in recent years is mainly due to organized crime. Drug trafficking and settlements seem to be the rule rather than the exception in our country in recent years. The number of petty thefts and street robberies has also risen slightly in recent years, which is not good for the crime figures.

Top 10 most dangerous countries in Europe

1. Turkey | GPI score 2.959

Turkey remains the most dangerous country in Europe this year, it also had a significant deterioration in GPI this year. The country fell further in the GPI world ranking to 150th place (!) between Venezuela (#149) and North Korea (#151). The refugee crisis in Europe continued through 2019 and 2020, leading to mounting tensions with Greecebecause the Turkish authorities refused to stop refugees.

Istanbul, Turkey | an unsafe country plagued by political terrorism
Istanbul, Turkey | an unsafe country plagued by political terrorism

In addition, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues to suppress domestic politics of dissent, leading to a worsening of political instability and increased political terror. Turkey also saw an 8,3 percent increase in the incarceration rate, from 318 prisoners per 100.000 people to 344. The number of Dutch tourists traveling to Turkey has fallen sharply in recent years. The decline was mainly started after the series of bombings in 2016 and 2017, which resulted in many deaths. The political instability and warmongering of the current president do not help, the end of Turkey's problems seems far from in sight.

2. Kosovo | GPI score 2.07

Kosovo never really recovered after the break-up of Yugoslavia. The country is struggling economically and the hatred for neighboring Serbia is still felt everywhere. The war has left many mines and weapons in the country, armed conflicts still occur regularly.

Kosovo, one of the most unsafe countries in Europe
Kosovo, one of the most unsafe countries in Europe

Although Kosovo scores much better than Turkey, it is still a dangerous country (by European standards).

3. Bosnia and Herzegovina | GPI score 2.04

Like Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina is struggling economically. Many people fled during and after the war for a better life. Unemployment is high, which can be seen in the many ghost villages in the country. There is a lot of petty crime in the country and although it also has good parts (strangely enough, especially the larger cities), the travel advice is generally still negative.

mostar bosnia | safest countries in Europe | Wereldreizigers.nl
Worldly wise | What are the safest and most dangerous countries in Europe? 30

In addition, just taking a walk in the nature of Bosnia is still a risk. There are still countless areas full of landmines that have not been cleared. As a tourist, that is not pleasant to say the least.

4.Montenegro | GPI score 1.944

Montenegro is generally a suitable country to travel. In recent years, however, it has experienced political unrest, riots and even a few attacks. The country's ties to Russia are worrying, but despite everything, Montenegro has seen an increase in the number of tourists visiting the country in recent years.

Kotor, Montenegro | The 3rd most dangerous country in Europe
Kotor, Montenegro | The 3rd most dangerous country in Europe

The beautiful beaches and low prices have proved irresistible to tourists. Fortunately, the coastal areas and especially the city of Kotor are generally safe, but as world travelers you run more risk in the country than you would actually like. It really is a country with two faces in that respect.

5. France | GPI score 1.93

Are you surprised that France is here? We actually don't. France has had a hard time in recent years. There is a lot of inequality between ethnic groups, there are many violent crimes and the country has suffered several attacks in recent years.

Some of the attacks in France in recent years are:

  • 2015 – Charlie Hebdo, 12 dead
  • 2015 – Paris, 5 dead
  • 2015 – Paris, 130 dead
  • 2016 – Paris, 2 dead (bomb belt didn't go off)
  • 2016 – Nice, 84 dead
  • 2016 – Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, 3 dead
  • 2017 – Paris, 0 dead (bomb in apartment defused)
  • 2018 – Trèbes, 5 dead
  • 2018 – Paris, 2 dead
  • 2019 – Lyon, 13 injured in bomb attack, no deaths.
  • 2020 – Romans-sur-Isère, 2 dead
  • 2020 – Charlie Hebdo, multiple injured
France drops further on the list and is one of the most unsafe countries in Europe
France drops further on the list and is one of the most unsafe countries in Europe

The huge and protracted 'yellow vest' protests brought politicians to their knees and eventually the military had to step in to restore peace. France is also falling further this year and is currently 66th in the world ranking and 31st (out of 36) in the European ranking of safest countries. So not good.

The only positive thing we can say about this is that, fortunately, southern and western France have not noticed much of this unrest until now. Those who stay away from the big cities will hardly notice it. Hundreds of thousands of Dutch people still go on holiday in France every year.

6. Cyprus | GPI score 1.92

Cyprus has had a hard time in recent years. It bears the brunt of the ongoing unrest between Turkey and Greece, both of which claim the entire island. Add to that a huge stream of refugees preparing the island with boats, and the recipe for problems is complete.

cyprus most unsafe countries europe | safest countries in Europe | Wereldreizigers.nl
Worldly wise | What are the safest and most dangerous countries in Europe? 31

With only 1,2 million inhabitants, it is simply not economically and logistically able to accommodate the large influx of refugees. As a result, the island has been plagued in recent years by petty crime by, among others, refugees who are trying to build a livelihood. Tourists who stay at luxury resorts usually still have a nice holiday, but outside the resorts the problems are quickly felt and visible.

7. North Macedonia | GPI score 1.9

North Macedonia has safe parts and does everything it can to protect tourism in the country as best as possible. Still, there are plenty of off the beaten track problems in the country.

Ohrid, North Macedonia
Ohrid, North Macedonia

There have been minor to medium-sized violent crimes between Macedonians and Albanians for years, and the border areas are particularly high-risk. Although it has scored better in recent years, North Macedonia is this year 62nd in the world ranking and 30th in Europe.

8. Greece | GPI score 1.877

In recent years, Greece has been recovering from a severe economic crisis that seemed to have no end. Unemployment in the country is sky-high, which does not benefit petty crime, theft and muggings. This remains a persistent problem, especially in the large cities, and extra caution is required as a tourist.

Greece recovers and climbs back up
Greece recovers and climbs back up

The many major protests against the government, especially in the aftermath of the economic crisis, often turn into violence. Nevertheless, despite the lingering conflict with Turkey, Greece is slowly returning to calm. In the last three years, the number of major protests has decreased by 50%, tourists are returning to the country and the economy seems to be picking up again.

9. Albania | GPI score 1.872

Albania has also been doing good business in recent years. Despite the unrest in the border areas, Albania has been welcoming more and more tourists in recent years and the population is prospering economically.

Security in Albania - improvement can be seen
Security in Albania – improvement can be seen

Yet it is still one of the most unsafe countries in Europe, mainly due to petty crime and robberies on the street. Fortunately, the coastal areas are generally still safe for tourists.

10. Serbia | GPI score 1.846

Serbia should no longer be taken as an unsafe country. According to the latest surveys (source at the top of the article), Serbia belongs to the 'green zone' of Europe for the first time in years. It was close to the fact that the United Kingdom had been here.

Serbia can call itself a 'green' country for the first time this year.
Serbia can call itself a 'green' country for the first time this year.

Serbia is generally a poor country and is still visibly affected by the war of the 90s. Yet the population seems increasingly satisfied, crime rates have been declining for years and security is steadily increasing.

Security in Europe – the middle bracket

Europe knows in total 36 countries of which you have already seen the 10 safest and 10 dangerous countries above. That leaves a middle bracket of 16 countries. Germany falls just outside the top 10 safest countries in Europe, while the United Kingdom just outside the most dangerous countries in Europe. In the list below, you can see exactly what the middle bracket of the safest and most dangerous countries in Europe looks like.

Also read: Worldly | The Safest and Most Dangerous Countries in Africa

  • 11 – Germany | GPI score 1.494
  • 12 – Belgium | GPI score 1.496
  • 13 – Norway| GPI score 1.496
  • 14 – Netherlands| GPI score 1.528
  • 15 – Romania| GPI score 1.541
  • 16 – Hungary| GPI score 1.559
  • 17 – Slovakia| GPI score 1.568
  • 18 – Croatia| GPI score 1.615
  • 19 – Bulgaria| GPI score 1.628
  • 20 – Poland| GPI score 1.657
  • 21 – Estonia| GPI score 1.68
  • 22 – Italy| GPI score 1.69
  • 23 – Latvia| GPI score 1.7
  • 24 – Lithuania| GPI score 1.705
  • 25 – Spain| GPI score 1.712
  • 26 – United Kingdom| GPI score 1.77

Do you want to know exactly how the countries are doing on a global level? Then view the 2 overviews below.

Global GPI (Global Peace Index) Scores | 2020
Global GPI (Global Peace Index) Scores | Part 1, 2020 | Source Visionofhumanity.org
Global GPI (Global Peace Index) Scores | Part 2, 2020
Global GPI (Global Peace Index) Scores | Part 2, 2020 | Source Visionofhumanity.org

Consulted sources:

Also read: Which are the safest and most dangerous countries in Central America?
Also read: Which are the safest and most dangerous countries in Europe?
Also read: Which are the safest and most dangerous countries in Africa?

Want to read more Worldly articles? Then take a look at our worldly page. Do you have a question, addition or do you see an error somewhere? Let us know in the comments!

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0 comments

  • Deutschland sicherer as Poland?
    In Poland, Gefühl nichts, eines der friedlichsten Länder ich war, in Deutschland kann man nichtmal mehr als Frau alleine Abends raus teilweise ohne belästigt zu be.

  • I think Ukraine is now the most unsafe country in Europe, and then Azerbaijan. (Nagorno-Karabakh)

  • Dutch:
    Surprising and strange that Belgium is in 17th place. It is certainly not one of the worst countries in the world… but a better ranking than Norway, namely poverty and crime in certain places, is enough; makes the ranking quite surprising.

    French:
    Surprising and bizarre because of the Belgian class 17. Certe c est pas des pires pays au monde… mais de là être mieux classée que la Norvège, a voir la pauvreté et la délinquance dans certains endroits c est assez; The fact of the class is a surprise.

  • English: I really wonder who and under what criteria these statistics came about-
    Classifying Sweden as a 'safe country' and only blaming 'right extremists' who hunt down (poor) foreigners is a mockery in itself!!

    German: I have a strong understanding of our values ​​and the quality of our data.
    Schweden as 'sicheres Land' einzustufen und leighlich 'Rechtextreme' zu accuse, welche die (poor) Ausländer hunt, ist schon ein Hohn fuer sich!!

  • Okay. First of all I'm curious to know what had the not so brilliant idea to write under Sweden, that it's gotten more dangerous thanks to far Right extremism.
    Aren't you people ever ashamed to lie to our faces like this?
    the entire world (literally) knows that Sweden has become more dangerous because of the left.
    Aren't you ashamed? You Scandinavophobic?

    It's as if Google today is run by deranged individuals. The way they put all those radical “buzzfeed sources” in our search results.

    • @OhYouKnowWho it is a shame to see how emotional and utterly disturbing your original comment was. It needed some proper moderation to be able to show it on this website. You can choose not to agree with statistics and research, still the sources were provided in the article and proper research has been done before releasing the report.

  • My wife and I have been planning to cycle the R1 from Berlin for a few years now (see https://www.europafietsers.nl/fietsroutes/euroroute-r1/ † After a two-year delay due to Covid, we are now being told that Poland and the Baltic States must be very dangerous because of the war in Ukraine. We are now avoiding Russia (also Kaliningrad), of course, but is it true that the rest of the journey has also become (more) dangerous?

    • Hi Wim,

      What a great plan! And no, I personally do not agree with what is being presented to you. My parents live in Slovakia, my uncle in Romania and friends in Poland. Yes, people are scratching their heads in all 3 countries, there are concerns about Putin, but for the time being life goes on there and nothing has changed in terms of safety in the past year.

      There is always a reason for some people not to go…

      Best regards,

      Chris

    • Hey Dirk, so are we! Fortunately, Norway has not become so much less safe. Other countries have just done very well in recent years and have surpassed Norway. This does not alter the fact that Norway is still a very nice and safe country.

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