The world is home to plenty of things to offer. Certain areas have peace, are safe, and suffer moderate violence and crime, while others are plagued by insecurity, terrorism, crime, and violence.
In general, North America and Europe are among the world’s most stable and safe regions. It is largely an outcome of solid and stable legal and political institutions, social harmony, economic opportunity, and welfare. When we talk about North America in particular, Canada is three times more secure than the U.S., following the World Population Review.
However, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America are relatively the most unstable regions that face myriad issues concerning politics and society. Many reasons make certain regions of the globe more dangerous than others. In certain countries, the crime rates result from structural problems and a failure in police and law enforcement. In other places, there are risks for totally different reasons, such as civil wars or political instability. In most instances, you’ll find both political instability and crime in the same location. According to a U.N. report that has examined the issue of instability and crime, both have been proven to be interconnected.
Afghanistan
With a score of 3.554 (less than that of 3.631), Afghanistan remains the most dangerous nation worldwide for the fifth time in the same row. A nation ravaged by a war entangled in revolution, war, and civil war for many years, Afghanistan has a higher number of deaths due to terrorist attacks and war than any other nation in the world. This is a significant achievement when you consider that Russia and Ukraine were in conflict for a few months as this data was taken.
Libya
In the words of Human Rights Watch, a 15-month battle between two groups of armed forces that ended in June 2020 resulted in hundreds of civilians dead and missing and thousands of people relocated. However, a year later, the African country is still suffering from “strong civil turmoil and political instability,” according to the IEP report. More than half of Libyans have been victims of violence in the last two years, and over 25 percent consider violence the biggest risk in their lives, according to the poll conducted by the IEP. The country is classified with the “extreme” amount of risk to travelers according to the Risk Map for Travel Risk Map compiled by Security and health management firm International SOS.
Somalia
It’s also the location in which 18 U.S. Special Forces soldiers died in a bloody fight with a Somali warlord’s troops in 1993, an incident that inspired Mark Bowden’s book “Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War,” as well as the movie that was based on the book. However, more than a quarter century after the incident, Somalia is still dangerous. As of the 17th of June 2021, the U.S. State Department ranks Somalia as an “do not visit” country, stating that “kidnapping murder, kidnapping, or other violent crime are not uncommon and terrorists continue strike government buildings, airports hotels, malls, and pretty much any other location that people gather. They can do this through attacks with mortars, car bombs or suicide bombers.” The African country has 20% of its population forced to relocate due to the ongoing war between the government in the country and al-Shabab an extremist group. According to the report of IEP, the violence has resulted in the loss of 34.9 percent of the country’s production of goods and services.
Yemen
As per the United Nations, Yemen is currently in the most severe humanitarian crisis in the world. Over the past five years, continuing conflict between the military has caused 4.3 million people from their homes and put 14 million at risk of becoming ill-nourished and suffering dangerous diseases. Around 80% of the Yemen populace (24 million) is in dire need of assistance from the humanitarian sector.
South Sudan
The high internal violence hampers the least peaceful place within Sub-Saharan Africa, South Sudan. While still a risky place, South Sudan has witnessed an overall increase in security between its 2021 GPI to 2022 GPI which has led to a noticeable reduction in both the amount of deaths due to internal conflicts (a 15% decrease) and the overall murder rate of 5%, which is the lowest rate since 2011.
Iraq
Iraq continues to be a victim of internal and external conflicts, including possible terrorist attacks. ISIS continues to take captives and murder civilians as well as members of the Iraqi military. Human rights abuses have persisted, such as violating rights to freedom of assembly and women’s rights. U.S. visitors to Iraq are at particular risk of being kidnapped and killed as Anti-U.S. sectarian militias throughout Iraq target them.
Syria
It is believed that the Persian Gulf nation has been decreasing in peace since 2008, as per IEP. A civil conflict between a Saudi-led coalition and Iran-backed Houthi rebels has claimed the lives of 100,000 people since 2015, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. Additionally, Yemen is increasingly plagued with violent crime. A staggering 13 percent of Yemen’s population are refugees or internally displaced persons. Surveys show that 51% of those living in Yemen feel less secure than they were in the past. In the Lloyds Register Foundation World Risk Poll, conducted in the year 2019, Yemen ranked worst in the world regarding the public’s opinion of whether the government has done well in providing safe water and food and reliable electric power.
DR Congo
Ranking in the top three (along with Russia and Iraq) in the category of “deaths from external conflict,” the Democratic Republic of the Congo is also the second-most-dangerous country in Sub-Saharan Africa. Political unrest and poverty occur daily, with militias and rebels roaming around certain areas at any time. Crimes like murder and kidnapping, rape, carjackings and muggings, burglaries, and highway robberies, are regular. Even natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, and volcanic eruptions too can be a source of concern.
Russia
Although most battles during the Russo-Ukrainian War were conducted within Ukraine, Russia ranked as the riskiest of the two nations. This is due in part in part to the fact that Russian army losses in Ukraine contribute to Russia’s overall threat level and in part because of the economic strains that exist and a governing system that is frequently malicious towards its people. In addition, trade embargoes and other international restrictions against Russia have caused strain on Russian economics and its food trade and caused hardship to the Russian population.