Ranked: most dangerous countries in the world 2024

The most dangerous countries in the world to visit in 2024 have been updated in the latest Travel Risk Map

The most dangerous countries to visit in 2024 are Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen according to the latest Travel Risk Map, an interactive tool produced by security specialists at International SOS.

The map is used to predict the safest and, conversely, the least safe countries in the world to visit and has four layers in total covering a country’s security risk, medical risk, and the impact of the pandemic on travel and domestic operations.

For the security layer of the map, countries are indexed according to their travel security risk rating, which uses five risk definitions: insignificant, low, medium, high and extreme.

International SOS uses several criteria to assess how the conditions in the country may impact visitors’ safety and security.

These include the threat posed to travellers by political violence (including terrorism, insurgency, politically motivated unrest and war), social unrest (including sectarian, communal and ethnic violence) and violent and petty crime.

Other factors assessed include transport infrastructure, the capability of security and emergency services, and the threat of natural disasters. It’s also possible to use the map to assess medical risk and road safety standards around the world.

MOST DANGEROUS COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD

These are the nine most dangerous countries in the world according to International SOS. They have been assessed as carrying an ‘extreme travel security risk’.

• Afghanistan
• Central African Republic
• Iraq
• Libya
• Somalia
• South Sudan
• Syria
• Ukraine
• Yemen

The most dangerous countries in the world include Ukraine, where Russia launched an invasion in February 2022; Afghanistan, which saw the Taliban take over in August 2021 as foreign forces pulled out of the country; Syria, which has been embroiled in civil war since 2011; and Yemen, which has also been mired in a years-long civil war leading to the deaths of thousands and a major humanitarian crisis.

Despite ongoing instability in Mali – which saw the UNESCO-listed historic city of Timbuktu taken under siege by jihadists in September 2023 – the West African nation has been reassessed as ‘high security risk’ as opposed to ‘extreme’.

“Government control and law and order may be minimal or non-existent across large areas. Serious threat of violent attacks by armed groups targeting travellers and international assignees. Government and transport services are barely functional. Large parts of the country are inaccessible to foreigners.”

International SOS

In October 2023, Israel launched an invasion of the Gaza Strip in Palestine after a surprise Hamas attack on southern Israel led to the death of 1,200 people and 240 hostages. As of 16 February 2024, the retaliatory campaign has killed over 28,000 Palestinians. To date, International SOS has not updated the map to reflect this.

Spotlight on: Central African Republic

The Central African Republic (CAR) boasts stunning natural beauty and diverse wildlife. It was once a premier destination for encounters with large forest elephants and western lowland gorillas. It’s also been claimed to be one of the world’s best places in the world to see butterflies.

Unfortunately, since CAR gained independence in 1960, the country has experienced decades of conflict and instability, including six coups. Since 2012, political turmoil and a religiously fueled civil war have made the country completely unsafe for travellers with all Western governments advising against visits due to safety concerns.

Despite President Faustin Archange Touadéra’s unilateral ceasefire declaration in October 2021, ongoing conflicts in CAR continued to severely impact civilians throughout 2022 and 2023. Intense clashes between the national army, Russian mercenaries, Rwandan forces and elements of the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC) have resulted in significant ongoing violence with dozens of civilians killed in several attacks.

CAR is experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis. Over one million people have been displaced by violence and an estimated 5.6% of the population died in 2022 – a mortality rate twice as high as any other country. By June 2023, 3.4 million people needed assistance with the situation exacerbated by flooding that affected over 100,000 individuals.

SAFEST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD

At the other end of the spectrum, the following 18 countries or territories have been assessed as carrying an ‘insignificant travel security risk’ to travellers and therefore the safest countries to visit.

• American Samoa
• Andorra
• Cape Verde
• Denmark
• Finland
• Greenland
• Iceland
• Kiribati
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg
• Marshall Islands
• Nauru
• Norway
• San Marino
• Seychelles
• Slovenia
• Switzerland
• Tuvalu

“Rates of violent crime are very low. There is no significant political violence or civil unrest and little sectarian, communal, racial or targeted violence against foreigners. Security and emergency services are effective and infrastructure is sound. Transport services are of a high standard with good safety records and only occasional travel disruption. Industrial action affecting essential services is rare.”

International SOS

Complete rankings

Most countries in Europe along with the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Canada have been assessed as carrying a ‘low travel security risk’. Ukraine is the only European country categorised as a ‘high’ or ‘extreme’ security risk.

Many countries in Asia and the Middle East including Jordan, Oman, Singapore, Japan, China, South Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei are considered ‘low risk’.

The most dangerous countries in Asia are Afghanistan and Pakistan; and Syria, Iraq and Yemen in the Middle East.

The most dangerous countries in Africa are the Central African Republic, Libya, Somalia and South Sudan. In the Americas, Haiti, Honduras and Venezuela are considered ‘high security risk’.

The full interactive map by International SOS can be accessed here.

More rankings and articles can be found in our remote work area:

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► World’s worst countries to drive in
► Most peaceful countries in the world
► Best countries for women
► Poorest countries in the world – ranked
► Happiest countries in the world
► World’s most powerful passport
► Countries with the fastest internet in the world
► Most stressed countries in the world
► Most expensive cities for expats
► World’s most democratic countries

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Lead image: akramalrasny/Shutterstock