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30. Palestine -

While the world’s most peaceful country, Iceland, has a GPI score of 1.124, the 30th most dangerous country has a score of 2.538. Palestine has been marred with war and political instability for much of its history.

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29. Lebanon -

Lebanon is a Middle Eastern country that sits on the west of the Mediterranean Sea. The Lebanese Civil War (1975–90) massively deteriorated the nation and caused economic crises that have rippled through the years and can still be felt in Lebanon today. The country’s various humanitarian issues have placed its GPI score at 2.581.

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28. Mexico -

The only North American country on this list, Mexico’s GPI score sits at 2.599. The country has been plagued with violence from organized criminal groups, which has been largely left unaddressed by the government. Several other human rights violations have turned Mexico into a hostile country.

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27. Libya -

Political and military instability in the African country of Libya has caused its GPI score to rest at 2.605. The Libyan Crisis, which started in 2011, has led to two civil wars and the collapse of the country’s economically crucial oil industry.

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26. Niger -

Niger is a landlocked country in West Africa that has faced severe drought and the gradual spread of the Sahara Desert. More than 13 million people don’t have access to water, which has created violent conflict. The country’s GPI score is 2.625.

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25. Cameroon -

Violent crime, armed robbery, and terrorism have become frequent in Cameroon, while diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria are the primary causes of death in the country. The nation’s GPI sits at 2.660.

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24. Colombia -

In South America, Colombia’s GPI score of 2.693 can be majorly attributed to the country’s continued human rights issues, which include unlawful killings, torture by government security forces, and corruption.

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23. Venezuela -

Venezuela is another South American country that faces critical issues. Primarily, the country has fallen victim to corruption and economic mismanagement, all of which has placed the country’s GPI score at 2.693.

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22. Chad -

Almost 42% of Chad’s population lives in poverty. The country has a GPI score of 2.699 that can be attributed to the nation’s critical levels of hunger, which are among the highest in the world.

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21. Israel -

Israel has a GPI score of 2.706, which is the result of the country’s socioeconomic instability, as well as religious disputes with surrounding nations.

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20. Nigeria -

The daily lives of Nigerians are marred with corruption. Economic instability in the country has given the nation a GPI score of 2.713, and there have been reports that the cost of food and resources have doubled in the past year.

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19. Myanmar -

Myanmar is located in Southeast Asia and has been the site of many ethnic-based insurgencies since 1948. The country is currently experiencing an ongoing civil war, which has placed the nation’s GPI score at 2.741.

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18. Pakistan -

With a GPI score of 2.745, the South Asian country of Pakistan faces multiple sources of external and internal conflict. Extremism and economic instability have given rise to political unrest and skyrocketing food prices.

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17. Iran -

The Middle Eastern country of Iran has faced decades of human rights violations and religious contention. The country’s GPI score of 2.800 can also be attributed to the civil unrest caused by military groups.

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16. Turkey -

A history of terrorism and armed conflicts in Turkey have given the nation a GPI score of 2.800. in 2023, the country also experienced a major earthquake that created further instability and widespread damage.

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15. North Korea -

North Korea has had a contentious history of human rights issues and is categorized as one of the poorest countries in the world. The country’s GPI score has been put at 2.848 and is greatly attributed to the nation’s food shortages and restricted freedom of movement.

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14. Burkina Faso -

The African country of Burkina Faso is currently dealing with one of the fastest growing displacement crises in the world. A quarter of the country’s population relies on humanitarian aid, all of which have placed the nation’s GPI score at 2.868.

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13. Ethiopia -

Ethiopia is located in the Horn of Africa region and is governed by lawlessness and rampant corruption. The country’s instability is exacerbated by poor governance by politicians with little to no experience, all of which has given the country a GPI score of 2.872.

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12. Central African Republic -

The Central African Republic has been the scene of an ongoing civil war since 2012, which has created an unstable environment ruled by political unrest and mismanagement of natural resources. The country’s GPI score sits at 2.934.

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11. Mali -

Nearly half of Mali’s highly dispersed population lives in poverty, which has rapidly increased since 2012, when the country fell into the ongoing war between the nation’s northern and southern parts. Mali’s GPI score has been placed at 2.963.

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10. Iraq -

Iraq has suffered through multiple conflicts and threats from terrorist groups. This has given the nation its status as the 10th-most dangerous country in the world, with a GPI score of 3.006.

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9. Sudan -

Sudan has an abysmal GPI score of 3.023, which can be attributed to the country’s long-standing violence and economic decline. Almost 40% of Sudan’s population lives with acute food insecurity, while 22% live at a ‘crisis’ level.

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8. Somalia -

Somalia is the easternmost country of the African continent and is most infamous for its piracy, which has created major problems for the country’s international trade. Other issues have added to the country’s instability, including terrorism. The country’s GPI score is currently 3.036.

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7. Ukraine -

The conflict perpetuated by Russia’s armed forces has created political and social instability in Ukraine. Further corruption and low living standards have led to numerous issues in the country, and placed its GPI score at 3.043.

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6. Russia -

Incidentally, Russia is considered more dangerous than Ukraine, with a GPI score of 3.142. The country, which is categorized as the largest in the world, has created unrest in multiple human rights areas, including political prisoners, the treatment of LGBTQ+ persons, and corruption.

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5. Democratic Republic of Congo -

The Democratic Republic of Congo has seen devastating incidents of gender-based violence and clashes between armed groups, all of which have made the country incredibly dangerous to live in. It is the fifth-most dangerous in the world, with a GPI score of 3.214.

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4. South Sudan -

The biggest issues faced in South Sudan are ethnic and political conflicts, which have given the country a GPI score of 3.221. The nation’s low level of economic development also pushes many citizens to crime, which creates a circular pattern of tension.

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3. Syria -

The ongoing civil war in Syria is the primary cause of the country’s status as the third-most dangerous in the world. With a score of 3.294, Syria has seen the death of more than 300,000 civilians in the past 13 years, while a further 6.7 million have been displaced from their homes.

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2. Yemen -

Widespread famine and armed conflicts have pushed Yemen to become the second-most dangerous country in the world. It has a GPI score of 3.350, which can be attributed to the country’s destroyed infrastructure and reduced quality of life.

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1. Afghanistan -

The most dangerous country in the world is Afghanistan, with a GPI score of 3.448 (compared to Iceland’s 1.124). The country has seen insurmountable political and security issues over the decades, mixed with corruption and economic instability.

Sources: (Visit World) (WorldData) (Institute for Economics and Peace)

See also: The most dangerous cities in Africa

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