Skip to main content

Safety-First Retirement Planning

Highest Safety Scores in This Directory

This list is generated from the directory's comparable national safety index. It is an informational starting point, not a guarantee of personal safety or a substitute for current government advisories.

How we think about “safe”

When retirees talk about safety, they usually mean more than just low crime rates. For international retirement, we consider:

  • Overall public safety and violent crime levels in typical expat/retiree areas
  • Political and institutional stability over time
  • Access to reliable healthcare and emergency services
  • Infrastructure quality (transport, utilities, communications)
  • Predictable legal environment and respect for property rights

Important: No country is risk-free, and safety can vary widely between neighborhoods and regions. Always review the latest government advisories, talk to on-the-ground residents, and, if needed, consult professional advisers before making relocation decisions.

Singapore

100/100 Safety

Safety index 100/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.001 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Japan

99.6/100 Safety

Safety index 99.6/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.002 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Indonesia

99.5/100 Safety

Safety index 99.5/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.003 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

South Korea

99.1/100 Safety

Safety index 99.1/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.005 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Italy

98.9/100 Safety

Safety index 98.9/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.006 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Switzerland

98.8/100 Safety

Safety index 98.8/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.006 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Croatia

98.7/100 Safety

Safety index 98.7/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.007 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Ireland

98.7/100 Safety

Safety index 98.7/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.007 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Hungary

98.6/100 Safety

Safety index 98.6/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.007 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Netherlands

98.6/100 Safety

Safety index 98.6/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.007 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Norway

98.6/100 Safety

Safety index 98.6/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.007 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Portugal

98.6/100 Safety

Safety index 98.6/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.007 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Spain

98.6/100 Safety

Safety index 98.6/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.007 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

United Arab Emirates

98.6/100 Safety

Safety index 98.6/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.007 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Czechia

98.5/100 Safety

Safety index 98.5/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.008 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Malaysia

98.5/100 Safety

Safety index 98.5/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.007 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Cyprus

98.4/100 Safety

Safety index 98.4/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.008 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Poland

98.4/100 Safety

Safety index 98.4/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.008 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Australia

98.3/100 Safety

Safety index 98.3/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.009 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Denmark

98.3/100 Safety

Safety index 98.3/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.008 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Greece

98.3/100 Safety

Safety index 98.3/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.008 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Austria

98.2/100 Safety

Safety index 98.2/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.009 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Germany

98.2/100 Safety

Safety index 98.2/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.009 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Finland

98/100 Safety

Safety index 98/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.010 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Belgium

97.8/100 Safety

Safety index 97.8/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.011 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Bulgaria

97.8/100 Safety

Safety index 97.8/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.011 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Romania

97.7/100 Safety

Safety index 97.7/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.011 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

United Kingdom

97.7/100 Safety

Safety index 97.7/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.011 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Sweden

97.6/100 Safety

Safety index 97.6/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.011 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Iceland

97.3/100 Safety

Safety index 97.3/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.013 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

France

97.2/100 Safety

Safety index 97.2/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.013 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

New Zealand

97/100 Safety

Safety index 97/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.015 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Luxembourg

96.8/100 Safety

Safety index 96.8/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.015 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Israel

96.6/100 Safety

Safety index 96.6/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.016 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Morocco

96.4/100 Safety

Safety index 96.4/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.017 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Canada

95.8/100 Safety

Safety index 95.8/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.020 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Vietnam

95.8/100 Safety

Safety index 95.8/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.020 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

India

94/100 Safety

Safety index 94/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.028 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Turkey

93.1/100 Safety

Safety index 93.1/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.032 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Philippines

90.6/100 Safety

Safety index 90.6/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.043 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Argentina

90.3/100 Safety

Safety index 90.3/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.045 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Thailand

89.2/100 Safety

Safety index 89.2/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.050 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

United States

87.5/100 Safety

Safety index 87.5/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.058 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Chile

86.2/100 Safety

Safety index 86.2/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.063 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

El Salvador

82.9/100 Safety

Safety index 82.9/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.079 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Peru

81.3/100 Safety

Safety index 81.3/100; latest comparable national intentional-homicide rate 0.086 per 1,000. City and neighborhood conditions can differ.

View retirement guide

Use this as a starting point, not a verdict

Safety is personal and contextual. A destination that feels perfect for one retiree may feel uncomfortable for another based on language, culture, health needs, support networks, or budget.

Before committing, visit for an extended stay, speak with local residents and expats, understand visa/healthcare requirements, and consider your long-term medical and logistical needs.

This page is for general informational purposes only and should not be relied on as professional security assessment, investment advice, or legal/immigration guidance.