Safest Countries in the World for Expats
Ranked by the GeoCompass SafetyShield Index, which combines everyday crime levels with broader signals of societal stability and order for foreign residents. Rule of law is scored separately in the Justice and Order Index. Faroe Islands leads with 9.35 / 10, ahead of Micronesia (Federated States of) (9.27 / 10) and Singapore (9.26 / 10). This view ranks 232 scored jurisdictions.
Methodology: rankings use the GeoCompass objective scores only. They do not include profile-specific dimensions such as visa fit or time zone fit.
What the SafetyShield Index measures
The SafetyShield Index measures personal safety and security for someone living in a place, not just passing through. It combines everyday crime levels with broader signals of societal stability and order, so it reflects both how safe the street feels and how settled the wider environment is. Rule of law and governance quality are scored separately in the Justice and Order Index, which keeps this one focused on safety itself.
Safety is local, so treat the national score as a baseline. The distance between a calm district and a rough one inside the same city can be wide, and a stable country can still have pockets to avoid. Use the ranking to shortlist jurisdictions, then check neighborhood-level detail once you know roughly where you would live.
Ranking table
| Rank | Flag | Country | SafetyShield Index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Faroe Islands | 9.35 / 10 | |
| 2 | Micronesia (Federated States of) | 9.27 / 10 | |
| 3 | Singapore | 9.26 / 10 | |
| 4 | Svalbard | 9.23 / 10 | |
| 5 | Marshall Islands | 9.18 / 10 | |
| 6 | Iceland | 9.15 / 10 | |
| =7 | Jersey | 9.14 / 10 | |
| =7 | Saint Barthelemy | 9.14 / 10 | |
| 9 | Wallis and Futuna | 9.11 / 10 | |
| =10 | Guernsey | 9.09 / 10 | |
| =10 | Liechtenstein | 9.09 / 10 | |
| 12 | Montserrat | 9.08 / 10 | |
| 13 | Falkland Islands | 9.07 / 10 | |
| 14 | Tuvalu | 9.06 / 10 | |
| 15 | Saint Pierre and Miquelon | 9.05 / 10 | |
| =16 | San Marino | 9.04 / 10 | |
| =16 | Tokelau | 9.04 / 10 | |
| 18 | Saba | 9.02 / 10 | |
| =19 | Isle of Man | 8.98 / 10 | |
| =19 | Luxembourg | 8.98 / 10 |
Top five spotlight
#1Faroe Islands9.35 / 10
- Currency Stability Index: 9.50 / 10 — Exceptional currency stability index
- SafetyShield Index: 9.35 / 10 — Exceptional safety and stability
#2Micronesia (Federated States of)9.27 / 10
- SafetyShield Index: 9.27 / 10 — Exceptional safety and stability
- Currency Stability Index: 9.18 / 10 — Exceptional currency stability index
#3Singapore9.26 / 10
- Admin Ease Index: 9.66 / 10 — Minimal day-to-day bureaucracy
- Banking Index: 9.46 / 10 — World-class banking access for expats
#4Svalbard9.23 / 10
- Environmental Quality Index: 9.40 / 10 — Exceptional environmental quality index
- SafetyShield Index: 9.23 / 10 — Exceptional safety and stability
#5Marshall Islands9.18 / 10
- Tax Freedom Index: 9.30 / 10 — Exceptional tax freedom
- SafetyShield Index: 9.18 / 10 — Exceptional safety and stability
See how you rank against these countries
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Get your reportFrequently asked questions
What goes into the SafetyShield Index?
Everyday crime levels plus broader indicators of societal stability and order. It is built for residents and long-term visitors rather than tourists.
Is rule of law part of this index?
No. Governance and rule of law are scored separately in the Justice and Order Index. SafetyShield stays focused on personal safety and stability.
Does the ranking look at specific cities?
No, it is country-level. Use it to shortlist, then check neighborhood safety once you have a city in mind.
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Researched from official sources, leading global indices and Lucky Nomads' own scoring.