Australia ranks as the 2nd safest country in the world for travelers in 2026, according to the Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) report, just behind the Netherlands, praised for its low crime, stable politics, and strong health systems. While consistently high in safety rankings (around 2nd for travel, 9th for general peace in some lists), it scores very well for health, transport, and perceived safety for diverse groups, though users should still be mindful of unique risks like wildlife and remote areas.
Australia is the world's 2nd safest country to travel in 2026. The best things in life are free.
Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, and Switzerland consistently rank as the top 5 safest countries globally, according to recent Global Peace Index (GPI) reports for 2025, followed by Singapore, Portugal, Denmark, Slovenia, and Finland, known for low crime, stability, and strong social systems, though rankings can vary slightly by source.
Iceland is consistently ranked as the #1 safest country in the world by the Global Peace Index (GPI), a position it has held for over a decade due to extremely low crime, no standing army, high social cohesion, and minimal conflict, though some other reports might place Switzerland or the Netherlands first based on different survey criteria.
Homicide rate: Australia's homicide rate hovers around 0.8 per 100,000 people, compared to the U.S. rate of approximately 6 per 100,000. Property crime: Both countries experience property crime, but Australia's rates are generally lower, and violent property crimes (like armed burglary) are less common.
Crime levels
Australia reported 46.01 crimes per 100,000 citizens. Australia is ranked 69th out of 164 countries when it comes to crime in general while Canada did better with only 39.03 crimes per 100,000 and ranking 80th.
Australia came in 11th out of 134 countries on the Global Finance list of the world's safest countries, and 18th out of 163 in the annual Global Peace Index.
The 2024 GPI indicates Iceland, Ireland, Austria, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, Portugal, Denmark, Slovenia, Malaysia and Canada to be the most peaceful countries, while Yemen, Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Congo, Russia, Syria, Israel and Mali to be the least peaceful.
Singapore ranks as safest country in the world to walk alone at night.
Iceland remains the most peaceful country in 2022, a position it has held since 2008. It is joined at the top of the index by New Zealand, Ireland, Denmark and Austria.
Crime rate by country 2025: 10 countries with the highest crime...
Level 4: Do Not Travel
Denmark. Denmark is at the top of the list of the top ten countries for quality of life. This small Nordic country consistently ranks highly in international surveys on factors like happiness, income equality, safety, and access to education.
Canberra is officially Australia's #1 safest city, with a crime index rating of 26 out of 100. That places it as the 49th safest city in the world. This ranking comes from Compare the Market Australia, which analysed 6 years of public data from Numbeo's crime index.
Crime rates in NSW are generally low compared to other Australian states and territories. Across both violent and property offences, NSW consistently records some of the lowest victimisation rates nationally, and for many offences, the lowest in Australia.
According to Credit Suisse's Global Wealth Report, the average wealth of Australian households was $628,000 per adult in 2020, the fourth highest in the world behind Switzerland, the United States and Hong Kong (North America as shown on the graph refers to the region, as does Asia-Pacific and Europe).
Iceland, New Zealand, and Ireland again lead with the world's lowest crime rates in 2025. Countries like Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, and Singapore follow closely, powered by strong laws and social trust. Know more below about what makes these nations so safe.
Iceland is consistently ranked as the #1 safest country in the world by the Global Peace Index (GPI), a position it has held for over a decade due to extremely low crime, no standing army, high social cohesion, and minimal conflict, though some other reports might place Switzerland or the Netherlands first based on different survey criteria.
1. Memphis. Memphis has one of the highest crime rates in the country at 2,437 per 100,000 people, with assault leading the list. The city has addressed these issues through targeted policing and community engagement initiatives.
The top 10 issues Australians say are the most concerning
Yes, $100k is generally considered a strong salary in Australia, placing you above the average (which hovers around $90k-$108k for full-time, but median is lower) and allowing for a comfortable life, though its impact depends heavily on location (major city vs. regional) and personal expenses like housing and dependents, as high living costs in cities like Sydney can stretch this income further than in regional areas.
Yes Australia and New Zealand both are aligned with the West and will probably be active participants, but their geographic isolation makes any invasion incredibly difficult and any attacks would probably be limited to missile attacks on military facilities, particularly against US interests in those countries.