Nigeria Among Most Dangerous Countries In The World 2021 Ranking
The most dangerous countries to visit in 2021 are Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Iraq, Libya and Mali 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 and comprises three sections: medical, security and road safety. For the security section, 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.
Most Dangerous Countries In World
The 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
Mali
Somalia
South Sudan
Syria
Yemen
A further six countries include regions (known as Security Risk Zones) that have been rated as an ‘extreme travel security risk’.
DR Congo
Nigeria
Ukraine
Pakistan
Egypt
“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.
Andorra
Cape Verde
Denmark
Finland
Greenland
Iceland
Kiribati
Luxembourg
Marshall Islands
Micronesia
Nauru
Norway
Palau
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 Ranking:
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 Central African Republic, Libya, Mali, Somalia and South Sudan. In the Americas, El Salvador, Haiti, Honduras and Venezuela are considered ‘high security risk’.
Some countries fall into more than one category where certain regions within a country carry differing security risks.
EXTREME (14)
Afghanistan
Central African Republic
DR Congo (SRZ)
Egypt (SRZ)
Iraq
Libya
Mali
Nigeria (SRZ)
Pakistan (SRZ)
Somalia
South Sudan
Syria
Ukraine (SRZ)
Yemen
HIGH (13)
Burkina Faso
Chad
DR Congo
Egypt
El Salvador
Haiti
Honduras
Mauritania
Nigeria
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Ukraine
Venezuela
MEDIUM (68)
Algeria
Angola
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belize
Bolivia
Brazil
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Colombia
