Finding a vacation destination that is both enjoyable and safe for tourists and local residents alike can be challenging. Conflicts continue to multiply across the globe, making travel uncertain. In its annual report, the Global Peace Index (GPI) ranks countries around the world from the most to the least safe, based on ongoing internal and external conflicts, social concerns, and the militarization of the state. The global level of peace has been declining for several years. Western and Central Europe remains the safest region in the world according to this ranking.
Iceland remains the most peaceful country in the world for the 19th consecutive year. The GPI explains this steady top position mainly by the absence of an Icelandic army, a low crime rate, and strong social cohesion. It is followed by New Zealand, which replaces Switzerland in second place. Our neighbor climbs to third, followed by Slovenia, Ireland, Austria, Portugal, Singapore, Finland, and Japan. And no, France is not in the top 10, quite the opposite.
France, the least peaceful among Europe’s most peaceful countries
Our country sits at 99th place out of 163 in the GPI ranking. This makes it the least peaceful state in Western Europe. Under the current criteria, what costs it points is notably the population’s perception of crime. According to the study Vécu et ressenti en matière de sécurité, 21% of the French sometimes refrain from going out for safety reasons. In reality, the figures from the Ministère de l’Intérieur regarding crime and delinquency remain relatively stable. The regular protests in France also hurt its perceived peace when assessing its level of peacefulness.
That 99th place, deplorable as it is, does not prevent tourists from flocking to France on a regular basis. The country remains the most visited in the world. According to the Ministry of Tourism, 102 million foreign visitors stayed in France in 2023. A new record ahead of Spain, 27th in the GPI ranking, and the United States, 134th on the peace criteria.
Social peace is not always a criterion for tourists
Not sure that tourists will be looking at the GPI ranking this year either. Despite the deterioration of safety and peace conditions in the United States—which dropped four places compared with the previous edition—the FIFA World Cup could boost the number of visitors this year. If hotel bookings fall short of industry expectations, according to a report by the American Hotel & Lodging Association, they could still rise by 3.4% this year.
As expected, countries currently at war are at the bottom of the GPI list. We thus find the Central African Republic, Sudan, Israel, Ukraine, and Russia at the bottom of the ranking.
The United States has announced a tightening of health screenings for travelers arriving from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan, countries affected by an Ebola outbreak.
