Working abroad is a difficult decision. A key issue for those considering living and working away from home is the safety of the place they choose to live. Infrastructure also plays an important role, including transportation, utilities, and emergency services.
But focusing on safety issues, those making the difficult decision to move abroad should be aware of a range of critical information. From crime rates to access to healthcare and digital security. However, safety issues are not one-size-fits-all. Some countries pose greater risks to women due to gender-based violence and inequality, while others may not offer strong protection for the LGBTQ+ community. Natural disaster risks, political stability, and the quality of healthcare also affect how safe a country really is.
Health insurance agency William Russell has ranked the safest countries to live abroad in 2025 (“The Safest Countries In The World In 2025“), with most of them located in Europe.
The selection criteria – Work and security
It ranked the safest countries in the world based on key indicators such as personal safety, public health, infrastructure, environmental safety and digital security. These factors play a key role in determining overall safety, especially for expats.
The analysis is based on the 2024 Global Peace Index and the World Risk Report, which assess factors such as crime rates, political stability, the risk of terrorism and resilience to natural disasters. It also looks at access to healthcare as well as digital security, which is becoming increasingly important in a world where cyber threats are increasing.
Minor Reshuffles
Since 2023, there have been some minor reshuffles in the world’s safest countries, with Austria moving up from fifth to third place. In addition, more than 90 countries have seen their scores drop since 2023. The declines are due to a variety of factors, including internal conflicts, political instability, and economic challenges.
The countries with the biggest drops in scores include: Ecuador, Haiti, Israel, Palestine, and Gabon. Israel and Palestine should come as no surprise and likely had one of the biggest impacts on this year’s index, with the ongoing conflict causing much destruction and loss of life. Ecuador has the largest drop in score with a nearly 50% increase. This is largely attributed to the high rate of violent crime related to gangs and drugs.
The ten safest countries abroad are:
1. Iceland: This European country has a significant expat population. According to Statistics Iceland, over 20% of its population was born abroad. Safety, without a doubt, plays a big role in this. At the same time, the country has been in first place since 2008, thanks to low crime rates and the avoidance of international conflicts.
2. Ireland: In second place in the ranking is the northwestern European country. According to the survey, the country was placed high on the list due to the downward trend in crime, tolerance towards immigrants, as well as the strong and stable economy it has.
3. Austria: William Russell said that the country’s safety for expats is due to factors such as a strong public health system, an extensive rail network and a low rate of serious crime. In 2024, Vienna, the capital of Austria, ranked second in Mercer’s ranking of the most livable cities for expats. The Economist Intelligence Unit also named it the most livable city in the world in 2024, for the third year in a row.
4. New Zealand: New Zealand is the most peaceful country in the Asia-Pacific region and the fourth most peaceful in the world. It makes relocation easy for expats, investors, and digital nomads. Although New Zealand has recently faced economic challenges, it remains a peaceful country with a low crime rate and many opportunities for expats in fields such as engineering, medicine, and other industries. However, William Russell noted that there are environmental security concerns, such as rising sea levels leading to increased flooding in coastal areas.
5. Singapore: Newcomer Singapore is in fifth place. Despite being one of the most expensive cities in the world, HSBC Expat says international workers are still attracted by its high salaries, luxurious lifestyle and strategic location, which makes it easy to travel to Southeast Asia. Singapore’s healthcare system is among the best in the world, although it can be expensive. William Russell also noted that Singapore has an efficient infrastructure and is one of the most digitally secure countries in the world.
6. Switzerland: Expats in the west-central European country typically have high incomes, but a 2024 study by consulting firm Mercer found that Swiss cities, including Zurich, Geneva, Basel, and Bern, are among the most expensive cities in the world to live as an expat.
7. Portugal: Ranked seventh in the world for safety, with high levels of political stability and very low crime rates.
8. Denmark: Ilana Buhl, an American teacher who moved to Denmark in 2018, told Business Insider that she feels much safer there, both as a woman and in terms of gun violence.
9. Slovenia: The OECD Better Life Index notes that Slovenia outperforms the global average in terms of safety. According to the findings, 91% of the country’s residents feel safe walking alone at night, while the homicide rate is well below the OECD average.
10. Malaysia: Malaysia rounds out the top ten safest countries, emerging from a period of political unrest. The HSBC Expat Guide says that Malaysia’s growing IT sector already offers plenty of opportunities for expats, who may choose the country because of its relatively low cost of living, easy access to healthcare, and tropical climate.
