Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Iceland remains the number one country in the Global Peace Index, a position it has held since 2008. When moving abroad, safety is one of the most important considerations. From crime rates and personal security to healthcare access and digital safety, various factors determine how safe a country is for expats. Infrastructure also plays a key role—transportation, utilities, and emergency services can all impact day-to-day life. However, safety isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some countries pose greater risks for women due to gender-based violence and inequality, while others may not offer strong protections for the LGBTQ+ community. Expat insurance experts at William Russell have ranked the safest countries in the world. Their analysis is based on the 2024 Global Peace Index and the World Risk Report which assess factors like crime rates, political stability, terrorism risks, and natural disaster resilience. They also consider healthcare access and quality, as well as digital security, which is increasingly important in a world where cyber threats are on the rise. Here are all the European countries that made it into the top five. Iceland Is Europe’s Safest Country For Expats Iceland remains the number one country in the Global Peace Index, a position it has held since 2008. The country has a low crime rate and usually stays out of external conflicts, with no army. It is also known for its high life expectancy and high air quality, as well as its acceptance of LGBTQ+ rights and gender equality, with no pay gap between men and women. In terms of accessing healthcare, Icelanders generally report low levels of unmet medical needs. Iceland currently meets and even sometimes exceeds the World Health Organisation’s guidelines for air quality. Additionally, Iceland has few dangerous wildlife, which is why hiking is so popular. You may see Icelandic horses, sheep, arctic foxes, seals and seagulls. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions can occur, though they are rarely dangerous in the case of earthquakes and many of the country’s live volcanoes are located far from populated areas. Digital security has increased dramatically in recent years, with the International Telecommunications Union’s Cybersecurity Index 2024 ranking it as a role-model country in tier one. Ireland Offers Expats High-Quality Healthcare Ireland comes in second place, improving upon its third-place ranking in 2023. The life expectancy of those living in Ireland is currently at 82.2 years, which is higher than the EU average. The country also has a strong and stable economy, low occurrence of internal conflicts, and tolerance of migrants. Recently, the Ministers of Health in Ireland announced that in 2025, there will be a €25.8 billion ($26.6 billion) budget for health services—a €2.94 billion ($3 billion) increase on the 2024 budget. €33 million ($34 million) of this will improve and increase access to cancer treatment, and €35 million ($36 million) will go to hormone replacement therapy treatments for women experiencing menopause. In recent years, progress has been made to improve the air quality in major cities in Ireland. Ireland has made significant improvements to its infrastructure in recent years, though it still faces some issues. One is a lack of affordable housing, with political parties pledging to build between 60,000 and 300,000 new homes by 2030. In recent years, progress has been made to improve the air quality in major cities in Ireland. The country also has its Climate Action Plan 2024, providing a roadmap for the country to halve its carbon emissions by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. Austria Has Low Crime Rates But Problems With Cybersecurity Austria takes third place. Most notably, it has one of the lowest economic costs of violence in the country, making up just 4.23% of its GDP, and has a low crime rate for serious crimes. It also performed well on the N26 quality of life index, ranking fourth. In Austria, the health system has almost universal coverage, and accessibility is considered to be generally good. The country has an incredibly extensive rail system, which spans a total of 6,123 kilometers and ranks as the 35th largest globally. However, the environmental state of Austria has been poor in recent years, with a report from early 2021 showing that greenhouse gas emissions had increased by 5% in the last 30 years. That said, you can expect the country to improve on this as they have set a target of reaching carbon neutrality by 2040. The IT sector has grown rapidly in Austria over recent years, with the market estimated to be worth around €710 million ($732 million) by 2028. However, this has also inadvertently caused a surge in cybercrime, with a 30.4% increase in such crimes from 2021 to 2022. The National Cyber Security Coordination Center is now dedicated to implementing innovative measures to improve the country’s cybersecurity. Follow me on Twitter. Rebecca Ann Hughes Editorial Standards Forbes Accolades