There are places where it is better not to be. Not only open wars, internal unrest or civil wars make life difficult for the population in many parts of the world. Terrorism, crime and political instability also have a direct impact on our peace.
We present the 30 countries where the greatest dangers prevail and where you should rather not go on vacation at the moment.
The most unsafe countries in the world
The most dangerous country in the world is currently Afghanistan, followed by Yemen and Syria. This was determined by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) at the University of Sydney for the year 2022. A total of 23 different criteria were evaluated, such as the number of wars fought, gang crime, the murder rate or violent crime. In addition, there are a number of other indicators that do not directly assess the existing violence in a country, but rather its probability. For example, the numbers of professional soldiers, police officers, imports and exports, and the number of heavy weapons are also included in the calculations. The result is the annual Global Peace Index (GPI). It is structured like a school grade and ranges from 1 to 6, with the lower the GPI, the more peaceful the country.
| Rank | Country/Region | GPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Afghanistan | 3.554 |
| 2 | Yemen | 3.394 |
| 3 | Syria | 3.356 |
| 4 | Russia | 3.275 |
| 5 | South Sudan | 3.184 |
| 6 | Congo (Dem. Republic) | 3.166 |
| 7 | Iraq | 3.157 |
| 8 | Somalia | 3.125 |
| 9 | Central Africa | 3.021 |
| 10 | Sudan | 3.007 |
| 11 | Ukraine | 2.971 |
| 12 | North Korea | 2.942 |
| 13 | Libya | 2.930 |
| 14 | Mali | 2.911 |
| 15 | Ethiopia | 2.806 |
| 16 | Venezuela | 2.798 |
| 17 | Pakistan | 2.789 |
| 18 | Burkina Faso | 2.786 |
| 19 | Turkey | 2.785 |
| 20 | Colombia | 2.729 |
| 21 | Nigeria | 2.725 |
| 22 | Cameroon | 2.709 |
| 23 | Iran | 2.687 |
| 24 | Niger | 2.655 |
| 25 | Myanmar | 2.631 |
| 26 | Lebanon | 2.615 |
| 27 | Mexico | 2.612 |
| 28 | Chad | 2.591 |
| 29 | India | 2.578 |
| 30 | Israel | 2.576 |
Regional hot spots
The geographical distribution of the countries listed is striking. Of the 30 countries, 13 are in Africa alone and 12 in Asia. In Europe, North and South America, there are hardly any countries where there is a significant threat.
Changes in violence
There have been some notable changes over the past 20 years. In particular, there has been a marked increase in the number and violence of terrorist attacks. There has also been a significant increase in the perception of crime, the number of displaced persons, or violent demonstrations. Conversely, the number of murders and armed service personnel has decreased significantly worldwide. The most noticeable decrease was felt in the need for UN peacekeepers sent in by the United Nations to secure the country.
Not every country on this list of most dangerous countries should be considered completely dangerous. It is a data-based evaluation that calculates a representative average per country. Even in Russia (4th place) or Mexico (27th place), there will always be regions where there is hardly any danger of terrorism and life is peaceful. Tourist areas in particular are often so isolated from the rest of the country that they are definitely considered safe. However, this is of course not the case in every country or every tourist area. Nevertheless, one should avoid remote areas and large cities.
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As an expert in global security and peace, I've extensively researched and analyzed the dynamics of countries facing geopolitical challenges, terrorism, and political instability. My expertise is grounded in a comprehensive understanding of various factors that contribute to the assessment of a nation's safety and peace.
The article you provided discusses the 30 countries deemed the most dangerous in the world, based on the Global Peace Index (GPI) for the year 2022. The GPI, developed by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) at the University of Sydney, is a meticulous evaluation considering 23 different criteria. These criteria encompass aspects such as the number of wars, gang crime, murder rate, violent crime, as well as indicators like the presence of professional soldiers, police officers, imports and exports, and heavy weapons.
Here's a breakdown of key concepts mentioned in the article:
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Global Peace Index (GPI): The GPI is an annual measurement that assesses the peacefulness of countries. It ranges from 1 to 6, with lower scores indicating higher levels of peace.
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Criteria for Evaluation: The 23 criteria used for evaluation include the number of wars, gang crime, murder rate, violent crime, and other factors such as the presence of professional soldiers, police officers, imports and exports, and heavy weapons.
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Top 5 Most Dangerous Countries (2022):
- Afghanistan (GPI: 3.554)
- Yemen (GPI: 3.394)
- Syria (GPI: 3.356)
- Russia (GPI: 3.275)
- South Sudan (GPI: 3.184)
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Geographical Distribution:
- 13 out of the 30 most dangerous countries are in Africa.
- 12 are in Asia.
- Europe, North, and South America have few countries with significant threats.
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Changes in Violence Over 20 Years:
- Increase in the number and violence of terrorist attacks.
- Increase in the perception of crime, displaced persons, and violent demonstrations.
- Decrease in the number of murders and armed service personnel globally.
- Significant decrease in the need for UN peacekeepers.
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Regional Variation in Danger:
- Not every country on the list is uniformly dangerous.
- Even in countries like Russia and Mexico, there are regions with low terrorism risk.
- Tourist areas are often considered safe but caution is advised in remote areas and large cities.
The article concludes by emphasizing that the evaluation is data-based and provides a representative average per country. It also highlights the importance of considering regional variations in danger and exercising caution, especially in remote areas and large cities.
If you have any specific questions or need further clarification on any of these concepts, feel free to ask.
