Safest Countries to Travel to in 2024: Insights from International SOS’s Risk Map
What are the safest nations to visit in 2024? New research from International SOS, a medical and travel security risk services organization, provides crucial information for travelers.
International SOS just released its annual Risk Map 2024, which predicts the world’s safest and riskiest locations as well as the major concerns that travelers will face in the coming year. In an era of travel uncertainty, from global security to geopolitical tensions, knowing the safest destinations to visit is more important than ever.
International SOS’s Risk Map examines a variety of risk factors, including security, medical, and mental health issues. This year, International SOS added climate-related hazards due to rising global temperatures.
The Safest Countries In The World
So, where are the safest destinations to travel to in 2024? International SOS’s security ratings are determined by several criteria, including political violence, societal turmoil, and violent and petty crimes. Other considerations involve transportation infrastructure, workplace relationships, the efficient functioning of security and emergency services, and vulnerability to natural disasters.
The Risk Map demonstrates that Scandinavian countries, known for their stability and excellent government, remain among the safest travel destinations. International SOS ranks Iceland as the world’s safest location to visit.
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The country ranks first for a variety of reasons, including low rates of violent crime, a lack of political violence, and low levels of violence towards immigrants.
Luxembourg ranks second on the ranking, with few security hazards to travelers. Norway, Switzerland, and Denmark complete the list of the five safest countries. The safety of these top countries is attributed to their stable political climates, strong law enforcement, and low crime and violence levels.
Slovenia, Finland, and Greenland are examples of countries with low-security risks.
The United States is rated as low-risk for travel security, but not the lowest. It is the second of five categories. Most notably, International SOS’s risk assessments for El Salvador and sections of Nepal have been reduced due to long-term negative trends in various parameters.
The stability of the safest countries contrasts sharply with the situation in the most dangerous countries, which are plagued by political upheaval and limited government control. According to International SOS, South Sudan is the most dangerous country in the world, followed by Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, and Somalia.
Medical and Mental Health Risks
Access to healthcare when traveling is a top priority—and, according to International SOS, 60% of travelers believe that the possibility of encountering a medical emergency during a trip is the key motivator for purchasing travel insurance. International SOS bases its rankings on a variety of location-specific factors.
Regarding medical safety, International SOS recognizes countries such as the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, and much of Europe and the United Kingdom as having low hazards owing to modern medical infrastructure and services.
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According to the International SOS, North Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Somalia are among the countries with the highest medical risk.
International SOS also evaluates countries based on mental health risks, such as the percentage of the population suffering from depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and schizophrenia. These figures are based on data collected by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.
According to International SOS, Vietnam is one of the least likely countries to face mental health concerns.
According to International SOS, the United States is at a higher risk for mental health difficulties, ranking fourth among five categories. According to the International SOS, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, and Iran are among the countries with the highest risk of mental health difficulties.
Climate Risks
The inclusion of climate change issues in the risk map demonstrates the growing significance of environmental aspects in travel planning. The rankings are calculated using data from the INFORM Climate Change Risk Index. Extreme heat occurrences this year, including the first-ever recognized heatwave in Europe, may become routine.
Extreme heat can have a substantial negative influence on mental health in addition to its physical effects. According to International SOS, Scandinavian countries (Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark) are among the least likely to face climate threats, along with Kazakhstan, the UAE, and New Zealand.
International SOS rates the United States as low risk for climate change, ranking second out of five categories.
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According to International SOS, numerous nations in central Africa, including Mali, Chad, Ethiopia, and Mozambique, have the highest levels of climate risk. The Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and India are among the other countries that are anticipated to face significant hazards from climate change.
Conclusion
There is, however, a link between high income and a safe city. Cities with higher average incomes reflected their riches by investing in superior healthcare systems and infrastructure. Cities near the bottom of the list are typically located in poor countries. Furthermore, there is a correlation between fair and responsible governments.
