Travelling to see the world doesn’t have to mean taking risks and visiting dangerous places. There are plenty of major cities around the world that are very safe. Here are some great examples.
Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo. Photo by Candida.Performa.
Using data based on 44 specific indicators in 60 major cities around the globe, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) put together their Safe Cities Index 2017. Each city gets a score based on digital security (online privacy, risk of identity theft); health security (air and water quality, environment); infrastructure safety (buildings, roads, bridges); and personal safety (crime rates, violence). After gathering their data, the EIU then consulted researchers and experts to analyse the data using sources such as the World Health Organisation. Here are the top 10 cities, starting with the safest:
- Tokyo, Japan
- Singapore
- Osaka, Japan
- Toronto, Canada
- Melbourne, Australia
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Sydney, Australia
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Hong Kong
- Zurich, Switzerland
This is the third year in a row that Tokyo, Japan has taken the number one spot. They rank number one in digital security, number two in health security, and number four in personal security. Singapore, on the other hand, takes top spots in infrastructure security and personal security, but struggles in the health security category. Toronto is the highest ranked city not located in Asia, and has been seeing steady rates of safety improvements for the last several years.
Keep in mind, this report only includes 60 of the world’s major cities, so not every city is on this list. The cities are selected based on regional representation and data availability, so don’t assume a city is unsafe just because it isn’t listed here. Always do your own research when you plan on travelling somewhere so you know what to prepare for. You can find the complete Safe Cities Index 2017 at the link below. Safe travels.
Safe Cities Index 2017 [Economist]
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