10 Least Safe Countries in the World in 2024, Can You Guess Them?

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Life in some countries is not easy. While the majority of countries have been able to achieve a state of peace and stability, others continue to grapple with persistent conflicts or witness a surge in crime rates, eventually resulting in constant fear among their citizens.

In this article, we’ll learn about some of the least safe countries in the world according to the 2024 Global Peace Index (GPI). Scroll down to find out more.

List of the World’s Least Safe Countries in 2024

The GPI, issued by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP), ranks 163 independent states and territories based on their level of peacefulness. The index measures a country’s state of peace by the level of "Societal Safety and Security", the extent of "Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict", and the degree of "Militarisation".

The report finds that while Europe has been consistently the most peaceful region in the world, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region struggles to improve the conditions and remains the least peaceful in 2024.

Without further ado, let’s find out which countries are considered to be the least safe in the world. It is important to note that the higher the GPI score, the less safe the country is. 

1. Yemen (GPI Score: 3.397)

Topping the list is Yemen, a Middle East country with the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. The 2024 GPI reports that Yemen witnessed a consistent fall in peacefulness over the past year.

Deteriorations in the violent demonstrations, political instability, and neighboring countries' relations indicators bring Yemen to be the world’s least safe country in 2024, which is the first time the country is at the bottom of the index.

2. Sudan (GPI Score: 3.327)

Sudan follows after Yemen as one of the least safe countries in the world, scoring 3.327 in GPI. According to Global Guardian, the conflict between the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) has—not only resulted in casualties but also—led to an acute humanitarian disaster.

3. South Sudan (GPI Score: 3.324)

South Sudan has experienced almost continuous internal conflict. World Population Review specifies that the African country is facing ongoing conflict, political instability, and humanitarian crises. South Sudan is not an ideal place for tourists to visit either, as there is a high risk of crime, such as robbery and assault, in its urban areas, gov.uk points out.

4. Afghanistan (GPI Score: 3.294)

A long history of instability, with decades of war, terrorism, and insurgencies, is the primary reason Afghanistan remains one of the most dangerous countries in the world. In terms of peacefulness, the country has seen a slight improvement relative to the past year.

Even so, Afghanistan still needs to work on its "Militarisation" and "Societal Safety and Security" as both domains indicated a deterioration, the 2024 GPI reports.

5. Ukraine (GPI Score: 3.280)

The current Russo-Ukrainian war has become the major factor in the deterioration of peacefulness in Ukraine. The 2024 GPI Report points out that Ukraine will remain one of the least safe countries if there is no resolution to the conflict.

6. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (GPI Score: 3.264)

While the DRC sees a slight increase in the GPI Score, it still requires finding a solution to resolve the recurring poverty and political unrest occurring in the country. Not to mention, kidnapping, rape, murder, carjackings, and other crimes remain common phenomena in the DRC, World Population Review mentions.

7. Russia (GPI Score: 3.249)

Russia is included as one of the least safe countries in the world and posits close to the bottom of the 2024 GPI Rankings. This happens primarily due to its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. The 2024 GPI also highlights a decrease in Russia’s "Societal Safety and Security" domain, notably on the Political Terror Scale, violent demonstrations, and terrorism impact indicators.

8. Syria (GPI Score: 3.173)

Prolonged conflicts have contributed to Syria’s high score in the GPI. Scoring 3.173, the country suffers from civil unrest and widespread violent crime, such as robberies, assaults, and kidnappings, creating an unsafe environment for civilians.

9. Israel (GPI Score: 3.115)

According to the 2024 GPI, Israel is among the countries with the largest peace deteriorations. This is owing to the current situation in Gaza. Not to mention, the Israel-Hamas conflict apparently has impacted neighboring countries, wherein Israel-linked targets are attacked in Lebanon, Syria, and the Red Sea.

10. Mali (GPI Score: 3.095)

Ending our list of the least safe countries in the world is Mali with a 3.095 worth of GPI score. This number is mostly attributed to the unsafe environment in the country. According to travel.state.gov, violent crimes, such as kidnapping and armed robbery, are common in Mali. The country also faces terrorist and armed group attacks.

Whereas these countries struggle to cease the ongoing conflict, other countries, primarily in Europe, have become safe havens for their people where peace and stability thrive. Check out our list of the safest countries in the world.

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