The Safest and Kindest Countries in The World

Have you ever thought about travelling or even volunteering for a project abroad? Perhaps you know someone who has done it but are afraid of doing it yourself, especially if you’re planning on going solo. 

It can be scary going to another country, no matter where it is. Travelling in general can cause anxiety, even if you’re just getting on a train to somewhere an hour away. 

Whilst you should always be cautious wherever you go, not everywhere is as scary as it may seem. If you are thinking of travelling somewhere different, here’s a list of the safest countries in the world, as well as the countries that are the kindest to strangers. 

Safest Countries 

Nordic countries regularly take up the top spots when it comes to ranking the safest countries in the world. Iceland has been named the safest country in the world for 14 years in a row by the Global Peace Index. This could be thanks to the country’s small population as well as their attitude against crime, their equality laws, and their trusted police force.  

Other Nordic countries that make the list include Denmark, Sweden, and Finland – with Finland also being named the happiest country for the fifth time in a row in 2022. 

Safest Countries in the World 2022 

1. Iceland 

2. New Zealand 

3. Ireland 

4. Denmark 

5. Austria 

6. Portugal 

7. Slovenia 

8. Czech Republic 

9. Singapore 

10. Japan 

Happiest Countries in the World 2022 

1. Finland 

2. Denmark 

3. Switzerland 

4. Iceland 

5. Netherlands 

6. Norway 

7. Sweden 

Safest Countries in Africa 

These happiest and safest lists do not mean that other areas of the world aren’t friendly either. Whilst countries in Europe and Asia have made the list, you may want to travel to somewhere in Africa instead. So in that case, here are some of the safest locations in Africa as of 2022… 

1. Mauritius 

2. Ghana 

3. The Gambia 

4. Botswana 

5. Sierra Leone 

6. Zambia 

7. Equatorial Guinea 

8. Malawi 

9. Namibia 

10. Senegal 

Some of these countries such as Botswana and Malawi feature on both safest countries lists and kindest countries lists as well. So if you wanted to go travelling in Africa, why not volunteer in Malawi? One of the safest and kindest places for foreign visitors to the continent.  

The Kindest Countries 

It’s important to note that the kindest countries and the safest countries can sometimes be two completely different things… 

For example, in 2016 a survey from the Charities Aid Foundation’s (CAF), the World Giving Index, asked people from around the globe if they’d helped a stranger in the past month. In the top 10, the two countries who said that they had helped a stranger were Iraq and Libya, countries that have both experienced years of war, unrest, and terrorist attacks. 

Despite dangerous conditions, the survey found that eight in ten Iraqi citizens had helped someone they don’t know. Did the war have something to do with this? Yes and no, as both Iraq and Libya had a strong sense of community support in their culture even before war broke out. Conflict has only strengthened this sense as Libya went from 72% of people saying they had helped a stranger before the civil war broke out, to 79% after the war started. 

Whilst depressing news headlines may leave you with the impression that the world is a cruel place, it’s the results of surveys like this that restore faith in humanity, showing that humans are naturally wired towards helping each other. 

The top kindest countries list 2016: 

1. Iraq 

2. Libya 

3. Kuwait 

4. Somalia 

5. United Arab Emirates 

6. Malawi 

7. Botswana 

8. Sierra Leone 

9. United States of America 

10. Saudi Arabia 

The last four countries all tied, as 73% of those surveyed in each country said they had helped someone. 

Have Things Changed Since Then? 

The survey annually tracks how generous countries are around the world. Since 2016, things have definitely changed, due to issues such as the global 2020 pandemic.  

The study currently asks: “Have you done any of the following in the past month?” and the three specific questions are: 

• Helped a stranger, or someone you didn’t know who needed help? 
• Donated money to a charity? 
• Volunteered your time to an organisation? 

The answers to these questions found that the top most generous countries of 2022 were: 

1. Indonesia 

2. Kenya 

3. United States of America 

4. Australia 

5. New Zealand 

6. Myanmar 

7. Sierra Leone 

8. Canada 

9. Zambia 

10. Ukraine 

As you can see, there’s a mixture of high, low and middle income countries, as well as those suffering from conflict. 

Where Will You Visit? 

Now you know a little more about the safety and kindness of the world, perhaps you’ll be able to learn more and pick your next destination. Safe travels!