Ranked: most dangerous countries in the world 2024

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The most dangerous countries in the world to visit in 2024 have been updated in the latest Travel Risk Map

The most dangerous countries to visit in 2024 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 at International 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 several 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.

A colour-coded map of the world's most dangerous countries 2024
International SOS Mapped: the world’s most dangerous countries 2024

MOST DANGEROUS COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD

These 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
  • Somalia
  • South Sudan
  • Syria
  • Ukraine
  • Yemen
most dangerous countries in the world lead image with barbed wire
Dreamstime There are currently nine countries carrying an extreme travel security risk

The most dangerous countries in the world 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.

Despite ongoing instability in Mali – which saw the UNESCO-listed historic city of Timbuktu taken under siege by jihadists in September 2023 – the West African nation has been reassessed as ‘high security risk’ as opposed to ‘extreme’.

“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

In October 2023, Israel launched an invasion of the Gaza Strip in Palestine after a surprise Hamas attack on southern Israel led to the death of 1,200 people and 240 hostages. As of 16 February 2024, the retaliatory campaign has killed over 28,000 Palestinians. To date, International SOS has not updated the map to reflect this.

A close-up of the Middle East
International SOS The map does not reflect the recent war in Gaza

Spotlight on: Central African Republic

The Central African Republic (CAR) boasts stunning natural beauty and diverse wildlife. It was once a premier destination for encounters with large forest elephants and western lowland gorillas. It’s also been claimed to be one of the world’s best places in the world to see butterflies.

two elephants play in CAR – one of the most dangerous countries in the world
GUDKOV ANDREY/Shutterstock Forest elephants in CAR

Unfortunately, since CAR gained independence in 1960, the country has experienced decades of conflict and instability, including six coups. Since 2012, political turmoil and a religiously fueled civil war have made the country completely unsafe for travellers with all Western governments advising against visits due to safety concerns.

Despite President Faustin Archange Touadéra’s unilateral ceasefire declaration in October 2021, ongoing conflicts in CAR continued to severely impact civilians throughout 2022 and 2023. Intense clashes between the national army, Russian mercenaries, Rwandan forces and elements of the Coalition of Patriots for Change (CPC) have resulted in significant ongoing violence with dozens of civilians killed in several attacks.

An armoured car on a dusty road in CAR
sandis sveicers/Shutterstock Peacekeepers patrol Bangui in 2014

CAR is experiencing a severe humanitarian crisis. Over one million people have been displaced by violence and an estimated 5.6% of the population died in 2022 – a mortality rate twice as high as any other country. By June 2023, 3.4 million people needed assistance with the situation exacerbated by flooding that affected over 100,000 individuals.

SAFEST COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD

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

Sant Esteve church in Andorra
Shutterstock The Principality of Andorra is one of the world’s safest countries

“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 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 the Central African Republic, Libya, Somalia and South Sudan. In the Americas, Haiti, Honduras and Venezuela are considered ‘high security risk’.

EXTREME (15)

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

HIGH (14)

Burkina Faso
DR Congo
Ethiopia
Haiti
Honduras
Mali
Myanmar
Nigeria
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Venezuela

MEDIUM (70)

Algeria
Angola
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belize
Bolivia
Brazil
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Chad
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Djibouti
Dominican Republic
East Timor
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Eritrea
Fiji
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
India
Indonesia
Iran
Israel
Ivory Coast
Jamaica
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Korea, North
Kosovo
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Madagascar
Mauritania
Mexico
Mongolia
Mozambique
Myanmar
Nepal
Nicaragua
Niger
Peru
Philippines
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Sierra Leone
Solomon Islands
South Africa
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Swaziland (Eswatini)
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Togo
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Ukraine
Zimbabwe

LOW (91)

Albania
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Benin
Bhutan
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brunei
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
China
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Dominica
Equatorial Guinea
Estonia
France
Gabon
The Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Korea, South
Kuwait
Latvia
Lithuania
Macedonia
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Malta
Mauritius
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Netherlands
New Zealand
Oman
Panama
Palau
Paraguay
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Rwanda
Saint Kitts & Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Senegal
Serbia
Singapore
Slovakia
Spain
Suriname
Sweden
Taiwan
Thailand
Tonga
UAE
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Vietnam
Zambia

INSIGNIFICANT (17)

Andorra
Cape Verde
Denmark
Finland
Greenland
Iceland
Kiribati
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Marshall Islands
Nauru
Norway
San Marino
Seychelles
Slovenia
Switzerland
Turks & Caicos
Tuvalu

The full interactive map by International SOS can be accessed here.

More rankings and articles can be found in our remote work area:

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Countries with the best healthcare in the world
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► Most peaceful countries in the world
► Best countries for women
► Poorest countries in the world – ranked
► Happiest countries in the world
► World’s most powerful passport
► Countries with the fastest internet in the world
► Most stressed countries in the world
► Most expensive cities for expats
► World’s most democratic countries


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Lead image: akramalrasny/Shutterstock

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About the author

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Atlas & Boots is an award-winning outdoor travel blog, founded by bestselling author Kia Abdullah and travel writer Peter Watson. They have been to over 100 countries and all seven continents.