What are the safest places to travel in 2025? A new report from International SOS—a leading security and health risk services company—offers key insights and practical guidance for travelers navigating an increasingly unpredictable world.
International SOS recently published its annual Risk Map 2025, which predicts what the coming year will bring: from the safest countries in the world to the riskiest countries, adding the biggest problems shaping the landscape.
The International SOS threat map assesses threats in 4 key areas: security, medical, meteorological and intellectual fitness threats. Countries are divided into five threat levels, ranging from negligible to extreme, depending on the category. This year’s map also offers more granular analysis, offering insights into more than 1,000 cities around the world and key threat factors, adding conflict, crime, infrastructure and access to fitness services.
Compare these results to last year’s report from International SOS, and you’ll notice a world grappling with many issues. According to International SOS, 65% of senior risk professionals believe risks have increased over the past year, with 69% predicting significant impacts from geopolitical challenges in 2025.
So where will we go in 2025 to have peace of mind? As in previous years, the Scandinavian countries are at the top of the International SOS list of safest destinations, along with Iceland, Norway, Denmark and Finland. These countries consistently rank high due to the combination of low crime rates, effective government policies, and adequate emergency services. Iceland has also been named the safest country in the world in other reports.
Switzerland also makes International SOS’s list of safest countries, thanks to its political stability and low levels of crime. Smaller countries like Slovenia, Luxembourg and Greenland round out the group of places with “insignificant” security risks—more proof that stable governance and strong infrastructure are key to creating safe travel environments.
Island nations such as Cape Verde, the Seychelles and the Marshall Islands are also standout destinations for safety on International SOS’s Risk Map. Cape Verde—off the west coast of Africa—is celebrated for its political stability and low crime rates. The Seychelles combines a welcoming culture with a tranquil environment east of Africa in the Indian Ocean. The Marshall Islands offers a peaceful escape in a remote location in the central Pacific Ocean.
At the other end of the spectrum are the countries where risk runs high. Countries like Libya and Afghanistan remain among the riskiest destinations due to ongoing conflict, weak governance and a lack of infrastructure to manage security threats. In sub-Saharan Africa, places like Somalia and the Central African Republic are characterized by instability, high crime rates and fragile governments.
Port of Bossaso in Somalia, one of the most at-risk in 2025.
“Geopolitical tensions have been the ultimate trigger, with adjustments to threat testing in places like Sudan and Lebanon, where the intensity and expansion of the fighting is now impacting more population centers and has increased the overall threat assessment,” Sally Llewellyn, head of International SOS’ global security director, said in a statement.
Other threat hotspots targeted by International SOS are Syria, Yemen and the Sahel, where instability is worsening and external actors are supporting suffering governments. In Venezuela, authoritarian rule continues to inspire emigration, while Bolivia faces increasing instability due to the decline of its economy. And the Russian-Ukrainian clash remains stalled, with neither side gaining ground.
Several other locations have noted higher protection threat rates due to crime trends and increased social unrest. This includes South Africa, where the threat is highest, medium to high, for the city of Johannesburg and eThekwini (which includes the city of Durban). In Mexico, the development of cartel activity has raised concerns in some regions. Rising social tensions in Kenya have also led to greater threats. New Caledonia has moved from low to medium level, in aspects such as social unrest, economic decline and related crime. And the Philippines, Thailand and Laos also saw adjustments to their threat scores, due to an easing in militancy.
International SOS downplayed the security threat ratings of any country in 2025.
Access to quality healthcare is another big consideration for travelers. For 2025, International SOS’s list of lowest medical risk destinations includes countries like the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia and much of Europe. These places benefit from healthcare infrastructure, access to essential medicines and reliable emergency services.
Japan is one of the safest countries when it comes to risks. Pictured: A Japanese hospital.
On the other haan countries like Afghanistan, North Korea and Somalia are rated as having very high medical risks. The reason? Limited healthcare access, insufficient resources and the prevalence of infectious diseases create significant challenges in these regions, which travelers should be aware of before planning a visit.
Two countries where the medical threat has seen notable adjustments this year are Bolivia (which went from medium to high) and Libya (which went from high to high). “Changes in medical threats are based on things like the quality and fitness of facilities, the availability of medicines, and the prevalence of infections and diseases,” said Dr. Kelly. Katherine O’Reilly, Regional Medical Director of Labor at International SOS in a press release.
The 2025 risk map also highlights the developing impact of climate substitution on travel planning, looking to the most productive countries to manage its effects. The Scandinavian countries are once again leading the way in minimizing climate-related risks. . The reason: proactive environmental policies and resilient infrastructure.
New Zealand is a low-climate destination by 2025. Pictured: Mitre Peak emerging from the Milford Sound Fjord.
Other low climate risk destinations include New Zealand and the UAE, both of which are investing heavily in sustainability and adaptation measures and leveraging new technologies such as “digital twins” to improve land and water management, making them leaders in sustainability and adaptation.
The places with the most severe climate effects come from several countries in Africa (Mali, Chad, Ethiopia), as well as vulnerable places such as the Philippines and India. According to International SOS, those already fragile spaces are affected by resource scarcity and excessive weather. Events.
The 2025 Risk Map also highlights the role of innovation in minimizing climate-related risks. For example, the UN’s Early Warning for All initiative aims to protect the world’s populations from harmful weather events through timely forecasts.
Mental fitness is the main fear of travelers. The Risk Map 2025 assesses countries based on rates of intellectual fitness disorders such as anxiety, depression and stress-related illnesses. It also highlights how global issues such as misinformation, political stress, and climate anxiety magnify intellectual capacity. physical fitness disorders.
Vietnam is a low-risk destination for mental health. Pictured here: Ha Long Bay.
In countries like Vietnam, cultural attitudes and social structures contribute to relatively low intellectual aptitude risks. Similarly, Scandinavian countries like Iceland and Norway fare worse on the dangers of intellectual fitness due to their strong systems of physical fitness, social welfare, and emphasis on intellectual fitness. balance between professional and personal life.
At the same time, countries like the United States rank higher on the intellectual fitness threat scale, reflecting demanding situations in broader society, adding stress, burnout, and limited access to intellectual fitness in some regions. These demanding situations are especially acute in urban spaces where stress levels are the highest.
Read on for lists of some of the safest countries to travel (based on places with “insignificant” security risk) and the riskiest countries to travel (places with “extreme” security risk). Countries are listed alphabetically. For additional insights, you can check out International SOS’s full Risk Outlook 2025 report here.
Seychelles is one of the safest countries to travel to in 2025. Photo here: Anse Source D’Argent beach on the island of La Digue.
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