Safest Countries In Europe

Last updated November 24, 2024

Global Peace Index Europe
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Global Peace Index EuropeQuestion Mark
1.IcelandIceland1.107
2.IrelandIreland1.288
3.DenmarkDenmark1.296
4.AustriaAustria1.300
5.PortugalPortugal1.301
6.SloveniaSlovenia1.316
7.Czech RepublicCzech Republic1.318
8.SwitzerlandSwitzerland1.357
9.HungaryHungary1.411
10.FinlandFinland1.439
11.CroatiaCroatia1.440
12.GermanyGermany1.462
13.NorwayNorway1.465
14.SlovakiaSlovakia1.499
15.NetherlandsNetherlands1.522
16.BelgiumBelgium1.526
17.BulgariaBulgaria1.541
18.PolandPoland1.552
19.SwedenSweden1.564
20.SpainSpain1.603
21.RomaniaRomania1.640
22.ItalyItaly1.643
23.EstoniaEstonia1.662
24.United KingdomUnited Kingdom1.667
25.LatviaLatvia1.673
26.North MacedoniaNorth Macedonia1.704
27.LithuaniaLithuania1.724
28.AlbaniaAlbania1.761
29.MontenegroMontenegro1.801
30.SerbiaSerbia1.832
31.GreeceGreece1.838
32.Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina1.850
33.MoldovaMoldova1.882
34.FranceFrance1.895
35.CyprusCyprus1.903
36.GeorgiaGeorgia2.065
37.BelarusBelarus2.259
38.AzerbaijanAzerbaijan2.437
39.TurkeyTurkey2.785
40.UkraineUkraine2.971
41.RussiaRussia3.275

Europe's Safest Countries Explored

Safety remains an essential factor when evaluating the quality of life in any setting, let alone in the diverse region that is Europe. With its rich tapestry of cultures, languages, and histories, Europe offers a unique study in how varied socio-economic contexts can affect levels of safety within countries. This article delves into the Global Peace Indexes of Europe's countries, providing a nuanced perspective on these diverse nations' safety status.

The Global Peace Index, developed by the Institute for Economics and Peace, considers multiple indicators within three broad categories: the level of safety and security in society, the degree of ongoing domestic and international conflict, and the extent of militarization. This data-driven approach yields a comprehensive ranking of the world's safest countries.

Key Findings:

  • Topping the list of the safest countries in Europe is Iceland, whose score of 1.107 reflects a longstanding stability that outdistances all competitors.
  • Ireland, Denmark, Austria, and Portugal immediately follow Iceland as the top five safest countries in Europe.
  • On the other end of the spectrum, countries such as Ukraine and Russia had considerably lower scores of 2.971 and 3.275, respectively, indicating heightened instability and lower relative safety.
  • Generally, there seems to be a trend of higher safety within Western European and Nordic countries, as evidenced by countries like Ireland, Denmark, Austria, and Portugal ranking high on the list.
  • There is an evident regional divergence within the safety rankings, with Eastern European and Eurasian countries tending to inhabit the lower ends of the spectrum.

10 Safest Countries in Europe

The safest country in Europe is Iceland, boasting a score of 1.107. This is not surprising as Iceland, despite being a small island, has a history of peaceful coexistence among its citizens. Following closely at second place is Ireland, with a score of 1.288, attributable to its progressive societal policies and cordial international relations.

Other European countries with comparatively high Global Peace Index rankings include Denmark (1.296), Austria (1.300), and Portugal (1.301). These countries consistently shine as examples of peaceful communities with low crime rates and strong institutional safeguards.

Not too far behind, we have Slovenia (1.316) and Czech Republic (1.318) – both countries secure in their unique blending of cultural heritage and modern governance. Switzerland also features in the top ten, coming in eighth with a score of 1.357, reflecting its long-established reputation as a politically stable and secure nation.

Hungary (1.411) and Finland (1.439) round out the top ten, bringing to the forefront the diversity in geographical, cultural, and political contexts within Europe's safest nations.

Safest Countries in Europe:

  1. Iceland - 1.107
  2. Ireland - 1.288
  3. Denmark - 1.296
  4. Austria - 1.300
  5. Portugal - 1.301
  6. Slovenia - 1.316
  7. Czech Republic - 1.318
  8. Switzerland - 1.357
  9. Hungary - 1.411
  10. Finland - 1.439

By Region

Albania

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.761

Ranked in Europe

#28

Austria

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.300

Ranked in Europe

#4

Azerbaijan

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

2.437

Ranked in Europe

#38

Belarus

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

2.259

Ranked in Europe

#37

Belgium

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.526

Ranked in Europe

#16

Bosnia and Herzegovina

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.850

Ranked in Europe

#32

Bulgaria

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.541

Ranked in Europe

#17

Croatia

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.440

Ranked in Europe

#11

Cyprus

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.903

Ranked in Europe

#35

Czech Republic

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.318

Ranked in Europe

#7

Denmark

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.296

Ranked in Europe

#3

Estonia

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.662

Ranked in Europe

#23

Finland

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.439

Ranked in Europe

#10

France

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.895

Ranked in Europe

#34

Georgia

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

2.065

Ranked in Europe

#36

Germany

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.462

Ranked in Europe

#12

Greece

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.838

Ranked in Europe

#31

Hungary

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.411

Ranked in Europe

#9

Iceland

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.107

Ranked in Europe

#1

Ireland

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.288

Ranked in Europe

#2

Italy

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.643

Ranked in Europe

#22

Latvia

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.673

Ranked in Europe

#25

Lithuania

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.724

Ranked in Europe

#27

Moldova

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.882

Ranked in Europe

#33

Montenegro

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.801

Ranked in Europe

#29

Netherlands

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.522

Ranked in Europe

#15

North Macedonia

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.704

Ranked in Europe

#26

Norway

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.465

Ranked in Europe

#13

Poland

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.552

Ranked in Europe

#18

Portugal

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.301

Ranked in Europe

#5

Romania

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.640

Ranked in Europe

#21

Russia

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

3.275

Ranked in Europe

#41

Serbia

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.832

Ranked in Europe

#30

Slovakia

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.499

Ranked in Europe

#14

Slovenia

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.316

Ranked in Europe

#6

Spain

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.603

Ranked in Europe

#20

Sweden

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.564

Ranked in Europe

#19

Switzerland

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.357

Ranked in Europe

#8

Turkey

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

2.785

Ranked in Europe

#39

Ukraine

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

2.971

Ranked in Europe

#40

United Kingdom

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Global Peace Index Europe

Question Mark

1.667

Ranked in Europe

#24

Table

Region ↕Global Peace Index Europe↕
Albania iconAlbania1.761
Austria iconAustria1.300
Azerbaijan iconAzerbaijan2.437
Belarus iconBelarus2.259
Belgium iconBelgium1.526
Bosnia and Herzegovina iconBosnia and Herzegovina1.850
Bulgaria iconBulgaria1.541
Croatia iconCroatia1.440
Cyprus iconCyprus1.903
Czech Republic iconCzech Republic1.318
Denmark iconDenmark1.296
Estonia iconEstonia1.662
Finland iconFinland1.439
France iconFrance1.895
Georgia iconGeorgia2.065
Germany iconGermany1.462
Greece iconGreece1.838
Hungary iconHungary1.411
Iceland iconIceland1.107
Ireland iconIreland1.288
Italy iconItaly1.643
Latvia iconLatvia1.673
Lithuania iconLithuania1.724
Moldova iconMoldova1.882
Montenegro iconMontenegro1.801
Netherlands iconNetherlands1.522
North Macedonia iconNorth Macedonia1.704
Norway iconNorway1.465
Poland iconPoland1.552
Portugal iconPortugal1.301
Romania iconRomania1.640
Russia iconRussia3.275
Serbia iconSerbia1.832
Slovakia iconSlovakia1.499
Slovenia iconSlovenia1.316
Spain iconSpain1.603
Sweden iconSweden1.564
Switzerland iconSwitzerland1.357
Turkey iconTurkey2.785
Ukraine iconUkraine2.971
United Kingdom iconUnited Kingdom1.667
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