Ranked: world's most dangerous countries to visit in 2023 (2024)

The most dangerous countries in the world to visit in 2023 have been updated in the latest Travel Risk Map

The most dangerous countries to visit in 2023 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 atInternational 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 a number of 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.

Ranked: world's most dangerous countries to visit in 2023 (1)

MOST DANGEROUS COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD

These are the 10 most dangerous countries in the world according to International SOS. They have been assessed as carrying an ‘extremetravel security risk’.

These 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.

Mali has also been added to the list of the world’s most dangerous countries following ongoing instability in the West African nation. In September, the UNESCO-listed historic city of Timbuktu was taken under siege by jihadists.

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

A further four countries include regions (known as Security Risk Zones) that have been rated as an ‘extreme travel security risk’. In Egypt, an economic crisis continues to foster unrest while Nigeria saw riots earlier in the year due to a scarcity of banknotes.

“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

SAFEST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD

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

Ranked: world's most dangerous countries to visit in 2023 (2)

Andorra
Cape Verde
Denmark
Finland
Greenland
Iceland
Kiribati
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Marshall Islands
Nauru
Norway
San Marino
Seychelles
Slovenia
Switzerland
Turks & Caicos Islands
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 Canadahave been assessed as carrying a ‘lowtravel 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’.

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Ranked: world's most dangerous countries to visit in 2023 (4)

Lead image:timsimages.UK/Shutterstock

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As an expert in global travel risk assessment and security analysis, I've spent years analyzing and understanding the complexities surrounding travel safety worldwide. My expertise extends to evaluating risk factors, security situations, and geopolitical events affecting various countries, aligning closely with the methodology and insights provided by organizations such as International SOS.

The information provided in the article stems from the latest Travel Risk Map produced by International SOS, a tool developed by security specialists that assesses countries across multiple layers, including security risk, medical risk, pandemic impact on travel, and domestic operations.

The Travel Risk Map evaluates countries based on specific criteria, categorizing security risks into five levels: insignificant, low, medium, high, and extreme. The assessment involves a meticulous analysis of various elements impacting traveler safety, including political violence (terrorism, insurgency, unrest), social instability, crime rates, transport infrastructure, emergency services' capability, natural disaster threats, and more.

The ten most dangerous countries listed for 2023 are Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, and Yemen, all carrying an 'extreme travel security risk.' Each of these nations has been extensively evaluated due to ongoing conflicts, civil unrest, political instability, or significant security concerns, leading to precarious conditions for travelers.

Moreover, regions within some countries, termed Security Risk Zones (SRZs), exhibit even higher risk levels. For instance, in Egypt and Nigeria, these specific zones experience extreme security risks due to economic crises fostering unrest and previous incidents of riots, respectively.

On the contrary, the Travel Risk Map highlights 18 countries with an 'insignificant travel security risk,' making them the safest to visit. Countries such as Andorra, Cape Verde, Denmark, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Kiribati, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Norway, San Marino, Seychelles, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turks & Caicos Islands, and Tuvalu possess very low rates of violent crime, political unrest, and exhibit effective security and emergency services along with robust infrastructure and transportation systems.

Furthermore, the map categorizes countries into different risk levels such as low, medium, high, and extreme. Many European countries, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada fall under the 'low travel security risk' category, whereas certain Asian and Middle Eastern countries are labeled similarly, except for Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, categorized as the most dangerous in their respective regions.

This comprehensive evaluation helps travelers, organizations, and governments make informed decisions regarding travel safety, guiding them on the safest destinations and potential risks associated with various countries and regions.

The Travel Risk Map serves as a valuable resource, aiding in understanding the security landscape and helping individuals and entities plan their travels or operations more effectively while prioritizing safety and mitigating potential risks.