Iceland has ranked #1 in the Global Peace Index for 16 consecutive years. Portugal ranks #7 globally — the highest-ranked major expat destination. Of the top 10 safest countries, 9 are in Europe.
Global ranking
Global Peace Index (GPI) score — lower = safer. Composite of 23 indicators: ongoing conflict, safety & security, militarisation. Source: Institute for Economics & Peace, 2024.
The combination
Countries ranked by combining sunshine hours (hr/yr) and safety (GPI rank). The sweet spot is Mediterranean Europe — high sun, high safety, competitive cost.
| # | Country | GPI rank | Sunshine hr/yr | Est. cost/mo | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portugal | #7 | 2,853 | ~€1,400 | ★★★★★ |
| 2 | Malta | #38 | 2,928 | ~€1,600 | ★★★★½ |
| 3 | Spain | #23 | 2,700 | ~€1,600 | ★★★★½ |
| 4 | Croatia | #25 | 2,700 | ~€1,200 | ★★★★ |
| 5 | Greece | #58 | 2,771 | ~€1,200 | ★★★★ |
| 6 | Cyprus | #64 | 3,206 | ~€1,500 | ★★★★ |
| 7 | Italy | #34 | 2,300 | ~€1,600 | ★★★½ |
| 8 | New Zealand | #4 | 2,050 | ~$2,000 | ★★★½ |
| 9 | Bulgaria | #45 | 2,279 | ~$850 | ★★★½ |
| 10 | Slovenia | #9 | 2,030 | ~€1,100 | ★★★ |
Expat destinations
| Destination | GPI score | GPI rank (of 163) | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portugal | 1.3 | #7 | Highest-ranked expat destination in Southern Europe |
| Malta | 1.7 | #38 | Very safe; small island keeps crime naturally low |
| Bulgaria | 1.9 | #45 | Improving steadily; EU membership a stabilising factor |
| Romania | 1.9 | #48 | Similar to Bulgaria; petty crime in Bucharest centre |
| Spain | 1.6 | #23 | Safe overall; tourist areas have pickpocketing |
| Greece | 1.8 | #58 | Safe for residents; Athens more chaotic than islands |
| Cyprus | 1.8 | #64 | Very low violent crime; property crime in tourist areas |
| UAE (Dubai) | 2.1 | #78 | Very safe for residents; strict legal system |
| Georgia | 2.1 | #78 | Tbilisi very safe for residents; border region tension |
| Bali (Indonesia) | 1.8 | #46 | Indonesia national rank; Bali itself very safe locally |
| Thailand | 2.3 | #107 | Safe for tourists; political instability affects GPI score |
| Colombia (Medellín) | 2.6 | #124 | Improved dramatically; some areas still unsafe |
Europe
Methodology note
The Global Peace Index measures structural peace — ongoing armed conflicts, political instability, militarisation, and homicide rates. It does not directly measure day-to-day personal crime experience (pickpocketing, scams, petty theft).
This means some highly-ranked GPI countries have tourist-area crime issues (Spain #23 has significant pickpocketing in Barcelona; Greece #58 has some scam activity in Athens). Conversely, Georgia (#78) feels extremely safe for residents despite a lower GPI score than its day-to-day experience suggests — the GPI reflects historical conflict with Russia and internal instability, not current street crime in Tbilisi.
Use GPI as a broad structural indicator, not a guide to where your laptop is most likely to be stolen.
Common questions
Iceland has topped the Global Peace Index every year since 2008 (GPI score 1.1). It has virtually no military, near-zero homicide rate, negligible crime, and no ongoing conflicts. Other consistently top-ranked countries include Ireland (#3), Austria (#4), Denmark (#5), New Zealand (#4), and Portugal (#7). Of these, Iceland, Ireland, and New Zealand are among the most liveable for English speakers.
Yes — Portugal is Europe's safest major expat destination at GPI rank #7 globally. Violent crime is extremely rare; Lisbon and Porto are safer than comparable cities in Spain, France, or Italy. The main crime concerns are petty theft (particularly on Lisbon's trams and tourist areas) and rental scams. For residents rather than tourists, day-to-day safety is excellent. Portugal also has low road accident rates and a stable political environment.
Tbilisi and the main tourist regions are genuinely safe — expat accounts consistently describe it as safer than most European capitals for day-to-day living. The GPI rank of #78 reflects Georgia's unresolved territorial disputes with Russia (South Ossetia, Abkhazia) and proximity to conflict zones, not personal crime. The EU-linked political instability of 2024 created some unease, but Tbilisi itself remains low-crime. Most expats report feeling safer in Tbilisi than in Berlin, Paris, or Barcelona.
Portugal is the standout: GPI #7, ~€1,400/mo cost, 2,853 hr/yr sunshine. Bulgaria (GPI #45, ~$850/mo) and Romania (GPI #48, ~$900/mo) are safe and affordable with EU membership. Georgia (GPI #78, ~$800/mo) feels safe in practice despite its ranking. The Canary Islands (Spain, GPI #23) offer safety + sunshine at ~€1,200/mo. Colombia (Medellín) has improved markedly but still carries risk (#124) — not recommended for anyone without local knowledge.
Strongly. The top 20 GPI countries overlap significantly with UN Human Development Index top 20, OECD Better Life Index leaders, and Economist Intelligence Unit Democracy Index. The correlation isn't coincidental — structural peace enables the institutional investment (healthcare, education, rule of law) that raises quality of life. For relocation decisions: GPI rank above 50 generally indicates a stable, functioning state. Below 80: research specific regions carefully. Below 100: requires strong local knowledge and risk tolerance.