It’s no secret that the world is developing at an astounding rate and urbanization far exceeds the predicted expectations. More than half of the world’s population today resides in cities, which is expected to grow to 68 percent by 2050. Developing countries move ahead rapidly in this scenario, but sometimes they cannot cope with urbanization’s challenges. Providing security for its citizens is one of these countries most significant challenges. Predictably, the safest city in the world rank high in the human development index, which automatically translates into better security.
So, how does one know which is the world’s most safest city? Every year, The Economist Intelligence Unit, sponsored by NEC Corporation, updates the Safe Cities Index (SCI) that answers the questions of which are the safest cities in the world. This urban safety benchmarking not only measures the crime on the streets but has a broad range of security inputs and results. There are four distinct areas that the NEC safer cities focus on that include digital, infrastructure, health, and personal security. In the latest index, a new measure was introduced; that of ‘urban resilience,’ an indication of how quickly a city could get back on its feet after a shock.
The world’s safest cities that topped the list in the four areas showed a leading trend, indicating that they have their basics in place. Whether it’s easy to access quality healthcare, cyber-security, community-based police patrolling, or readiness for disasters, the safest cities in the world tick all the right boxes. While some of the safest cities lie in Asia, this trend has nothing to do with geography but the ability of these countries to cater to their citizens’ needs aptly. So, here comes the list of the what are safest cities in the world as a great reference point for ardent travelers.
Chicago, United States
20
the safest city in the world is Chicago. It comes with an overall score of 75. Chicago spots best in Infrastructure Security at ninth, with Sydney with a score of 84.5. Regarding Digital Security, it surpasses Washington by claiming the tenth spot, tied with Frankfurt, with 76.7.
As for Health Security, it ranks fifteenth, the same as Los Angeles, with a score of 74.8. However, there is a marginal difference between Personal Security and Infrastructure Security. Its safety standards in these areas come on the 30th and 29th.
Zurich, Switzerland
19
Zurich is known as an expensive tourist destination and as one of Europe’s biggest financial centers. Zurich is also a cultural hub and frequently ranks as one of the safest cities in the world. It makes Zurich a tranquil place to live or visit. On the latest SCI, Zurich ranks 19th, one number below Chicago with 76.3 overall.
It’s on the top 10 list for Environmental Security with 82.3, while ranks 12th, tied with Wellington for Infrastructure Security. Meanwhile, in Personal Security and Digital Security, it’s on the 15th, scoring 73.4 and 74.8. It drops its ranks for Health Security with only 66.6 in the 34th.
Los Angeles, United States
18
Los Angeles sits at no. 18 on the most safest city in the world with an overall score of 76.5. It does well in terms of Digital Security, tied in fourth place with San Francisco with 82. It sits in the top twenty in Health Security with a 74.8 point, tied with Chicago. Although it has a relatively good score, Los Angeles occupies the 21st spot in Infrastructure Security with 82.9
However, Los Angeles comes out in the 29th spot for Personal Security in other areas. Meanwhile, it scored 76.3 for Environmental Security, making Los Angeles the 24th. Even though some of its parameters may seem low, it’s pretty good. Los Angeles is also a gay-friendly city. You’ll find some of the best gay-friendly hotels in Los Angeles.
Osaka, Japan
17
In the 2021 Safe Cities Index by EIU, Osaka comes in number 17. Osaka is one of two Japanese cities sitting in the top 20 of the rankings of the safest cities in the world. This is because of its commitment to its citizens and not because of its culture or geographical location. The city’s residents and officials have focused on building metropolitan environments that ensure safety.
In healthcare, Osaka comes with a score of 81.8 as one of the world’s safest cities. Meanwhile, in Infrastructure Security with 86.6. and is also in the top 20 in Personal Security. Where it narrowly misses out of the 20 is in Digital Security.
San Francisco, United States
16
San Francisco’s location on the San Andreas Fault may make it prone to earthquakes, but that does not seem to hamper its Infrastructure Security. As a commercial and cultural center in Northern California, San Francisco is one of the most populous in the U.S. and the fourth most populous in California.
With an overall score of 77.2, together with London, it sits much higher than Dubai or Zurich as the safest cities around the globe. Another area where San Francisco impresses is Digital Security, with its tying with Los Angeles for fourth place. In terms of Health Security, the city doesn’t fare too bad either, with a score of 77.3.
London, United Kingdom
15
Millions of tourists visit London every year. Lately, London has featured quite high on the terrorism radar and may not feel like one of the safest cities in the world. Despite this, it sits one place higher than Zurich on Personal Security with 74.4. London also features in the top 15 cities on Digital Security with 76.6. Although it’s placed 23rd on Infrastructure Security, it still has an impressive score of 82.7 in that area.
London scores 78.8 in eight ranks for Health Security but has an impressive record with regards to Mental Health. According to the Safe Cities Index, London police work hard to find care for mentally unstable persons who would’ve otherwise ended up in jail. This translates into less crime on the streets. All these factors make London ranks fifteenth among the safest city in the world.
Washington, D.C. United States
14
Washington, D.C is one of the cities in the U.S. that ranks among the Safest Cities in the world. The United States capital city, Washington D.C, fairs well in Digital Security, sitting in 19th. No surprises there, though, as Washington, D.C. probably has plenty of sensitive information that it needs to keep secure. Washington has a much better showing in Infrastructure Security, ranking eight, just slightly below Osaka. Environmental Security is excellent at 87.6, but on the Personal Security front, it’s below Los Angeles at no. 28.
Located on the Potomac River, this one of the U.S.’s safe cities has many neoclassical monuments and buildings, including the iconic Capitol, White House, and Supreme Court. With top-rated tourist attractions, making it’s a great place to travel. Visitors will also love the iconic museums, performing arts venues, monuments, and memorials
Frankfurt, Germany
13
The only German city to make it to the top 15 in the safest city in the world rankings is Frankfurt, with an overall score of 77.7. Not surprisingly, Germany’s financial capital sits high, the tenth place on Digital Security with 76.7. Personal Security in Frankfurt is pretty excellent, too, at number three, with a score of 80.3. The area where it loses out to the safest cities in the world are Environmental Security, coming in at 26 with 74.9, and Health Security at 24th.
As one of the top cities for many people to live in, Frankfurt has excellent employment opportunities, lots of high-quality beer, and diverse and vibrant culture. Planning to visit? Stay at one of the 11 Best Hotels in Frankfurt. Frankfurt is also a gay-friendly city. Enjoy the best welcoming vibe at one of the Top 11 Gay-Friendly Hotels in Frankfurt.
New York City, United States
12
Tight score with Barcelona at 11th, some readers may be quite surprised to see New York so high up on the rankings of the safest city in the world. Still, it does pretty well on several parameters. Compared to the rest of the states in the U.S., New York is very safe. Although it sits lower than Milan and Seoul in Personal, New York does pretty well in Digital Security rankings at 6 with 81.6
Regarding Health Security, like its other American counterpart on the list, New York has a lower point of 75.2. After considering all these parameters, New York has an overall safety score of 77.8, which is hardly a tiny difference from Stockholm at 78.
Barcelona, Spain
11
Ranking the same at 11th on the world’s most safest city as New York City is Barcelona. It’s also the 4thsafest city in Europe, in a new index released by the EIU with a score of 77.8. In terms of Health Security, Barcelona surpasses Sydney and San Francisco by claiming the ninth spot with a score of 78.1. However, there is a marginal difference concerning Infrastructure Security and Environmental Security, which Barcelona ranks at number 17 and 18.
This cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region and the second most populous municipality of Spain, is known for its architecture and arts. If you travel to Barcelona, you shouldn’t miss the fantastical Sagrada Família Church, Museu Picasso and Fundació Joan Miró, and other modernist landmarks.
Stockholm, Sweden
10
The capital of Sweden, Stockholm, made one of the safest cities in the world at tenth. In terms of Infrastructure Security, Stockholm is right up there on the list of the safest city in the world, with a ranking of six and a point of 87.3. It performs exceptionally on Personal Security, too, ranking in the fourth spot with 79.7. Where it loses out to other safe cities is in Digital Security and Health Security. Stockholm scores 72.6 and 66.5, respectively; it ranks average in the list.
Stockholm offers cobblestone streets covering 14 islands and dozens of 50 bridges on an extensive Baltic Sea archipelago. This capital city is home to the Nobel Museum, the Kungliga Slottet Royal Palace, and the 13th-century Storkyrkan Cathedral.
Melbourne, Australia
9
It’s not all that surprising that a city that ranks as one of the happiest cities in the world, occupies the top ten spot on safest cities in the world too. Safety and contentment go hand in hand, a fact that the Safe Cities Index highlights.
Infrastructure security is where Melbourne does exceptionally well with 93.5 and a ranking of 7. With regard to Personal Security, it scores 86.8 and 89.4 in Digital Security. It ties with two European countries and one Australian country in Health Security with 79.3.
Beside its safety, Melbourne is also known for being a gay friendly city. On that note, we have a list of Top 11 Gay Friendly Hotels in Melbourne.
Hong Kong, China
8
Tied with Australia in the eighth of the most safest city in the world, Hong Kong comes with a 78.6 overall score. Advanced in the economy, it has very low rates of crime across the cities on the list. Hong Kong tops the list in Infrastructure Security with a score of 93.4, followed by Singapore in second place. Also, the city does well in terms of Health Security in third place with a point of 84. But, Hong Kong does badly in the twenty-first’s Digital Security and Personal Security ranking. In Environmental Security, it ranks much below with 74.8 on the twenty-seventh.
Located in the eastern Pearl River Delta in South China, Hong Kong offers the best experience for visitors. Explore the city’s bustling for events, dining, and shopping. Also, don’t miss to discover Hong Kong’s gems in its world-class museums.
Wellington, Australia
7
One rank ahead of Hong Kong in the safest city in the world in a new index released by the Economist Intelligence Unit is Wellington. This city in the region of New South Wales, Australia, ranks seventh with an overall score of 79. Wellington sits on the top of the index for Environmental Security with a high point of 91.7. In terms of Personal Security, Wellington sits seventh with 78.3 after Paris.
As for Infrastructure Security, it’s tied with Zurich in the twelve for 84.2. Scored one number below Melbourne, the city ranks ninth for Digital Security with 77.3. However, in forty-one, Wellington ranks out of the top ten for Health Security with 63.4.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
6
Regarding resilience and preparedness for future shocks, Amsterdam scores 79.3 overall, ranking sixth as the safest city in the world. This, coupled with its impressive showing in Personal Security, has given the city a boost to the top of the rankings. It sits in second because it gets the basics right. Amsterdam also does well on Digital Security with a score of 79.3.
Amsterdam performs in the same rank as New York in Environmental Security with a score of 80.9 at eleventh. Although Amsterdam ranks 23th in 19th in Health Security and Infrastructure Security, it’s outperformed other Europe cities on the list. Planning to visit? Make sure to stay at one of the 11 Best Hotels in Amsterdam.
Tokyo, Japan
5
To answer the question of what are the safest cities in the world, we’ve arrived on the fifth. Tokyo’s rank was down to fifth in the list of safest cities in the world. This capital city of Japan scores 80 in total. However, it leads in Health Security with an excellent point of 87.7. It also performs well in Infrastructure Security in fifth. However, for other areas, it’s out of the top ten.
Despite having 91% of the population access to the internet, Tokyo scores low in Digital Security, with 71 in 20th place. In Personal Security, it ranks 16th, just below Zurich by very little point. Japan’s smart city plan includes creating a pleasant urban environment. It ranks 13th place in terms of Environmental Security.
Sydney, Australia
4
Sydney is the second Australian city to feature in the rankings of what are the safest cities in the world. Given that it is Australia’s most populous city, the results are quite surprising. Like it’s contemporary on the list, Sydney has also often featured in the top 10 most liveable cities in the world. This probably indicates why Sidney is such a safe place to live in. The SCI with highlights the fact that the safest city also has other parameters that contribute to making them safe.
Sydney does significantly well over all parameters as the safest city, tying with Melbourne in three areas. The area in which Sydney outperforms Melbourne is in Digital Security. Sidney sits top of the list with a score of 83.2. Sydney ranks ninth, tying with Chicago in Infrastructure Security, while it’s ahead of Barcelona in Personal Security. Like Melbourne, Sydney is also a gay-friendly city. If this is what you’re looking for, stay at one of the Top 11 Gay-Friendly Hotels in Sydney.
Singapore City, Singapore
3
Over the years, Singapore has added many superlatives to its kitty in world rankings. It features at the top of the cleanest cities in the world and the most expensive cities in the world. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that Singapore has added one more feather to its cap. With a total score of 80.7, Singapore is the third safest city in the world.
It sits second for Digital Security, Health Security, and Infrastructure Security with 82.8, 84.1, and 92.1, respectively, by the Safe Cities Index. In terms of Personal Security, it sits on 13th, right ahead of London with 74.5. However, Singapore scores low in the 37th for Environmental Security with 69.9.
Toronto, Canada
2
Toronto, one of the largest cities in Canada, is often known for its high crime rates among fellow Canadians. Toronto’s security levels across all parameters are quite steady, which adds to its overall score of 82.2. However, Environmental Security and Infrastructure Security are two areas where it performs exceptionally well, with an average score of 89.5 in these two areas. In the area of Health Security, it sits below Seoul and falls Wellington in Personal Security.
Only an area puts Toronto out of the top ten of the world’s safest cities, which is Digital Security on the fourteenth. Toronto is a major Canadian city located along Lake Ontario. This dynamic metropolis has plenty of soaring skyscrapers, green spaces, a zoo, and sports facilities. With numerous options, visitors will enjoy exciting attractions, fun festivals, and more in the most safest city in the world.
Copenhagen, Denmark
1
We’ve finally come to the answer of what are the safest cities in the world. The capital city of Denmark, Copenhagen, is reputed to be the happiest city in the world and is known for being the city of fairy tales. It tops the safest city in the world by the SCI with a total score of 82.4. It also claims top at first for Personal Security with 86.4. Community-based police patrolling helps keep crime in check, adding to the safety of Copenhagen. Meanwhile, it sits third for Digital Security with 82.2 and Infrastructure Security with 89. It’s on the six places for Environmental Security with 84.5, below Milan.
However, its’ Health Security puts out of the top 20, scoring 70. Copenhagen does reasonably well in the other areas, too, including being gay-friendly, as you can see from the abundant options for gay-friendly hotels in Copenhagen. Planning to visit? Make sure to stay at one of the 11 Best Hotels in Copenhagen. Also, explore its canals, excellent food, and Tivoli Garden, which was the home to the famous children’s writer, Hans C Andersen.
Which city has been marketed as the world’s safest city by the Economist Intelligence Unit in 2021?
Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital city, has been named one of the world’s safest cities in the Safe Cities Index 2021 which is released by the EIU. This capital city scored 82.4 out of 100, leading the fourth edition of the biennial EIU index, with its lowest crime rate in over a decade. Hence, it ranked in the top 10 for quality of living which measures urban safety.
Who has the lowest crime rate in the world?
Switzerland has been named one of the lowest crime rates in the world. It’s also considered one of the safest places to live because of safeguarding peace, harmony, and tranquility. Since it is divided into 26 regions with various legal authorities, Switzerland has extremely few robberies or killings.
Where is the safest city in the world to live?
According to the Safe Cities Index from the Economist Intelligence Unit, Copenhagen was considered the most safest city in the world in 2021. It ranks first in the overall score and for personal security. Meanwhile, this capital of Denmark sits third for digital security and infrastructure security.