For those new to international travel, the uncertainties involved can often seem daunting, making safety a key consideration. If you’re eager to explore the world with confidence and start filling your passport with stamps, a new study by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) may provide the reassurance you need.
In October, BHTP released its annual report identifying the safest countries in the world for travelers. According to its latest findings, Iceland has been named the safest destination for 2025.
To determine the rankings, the company relied on its own data, which has been collected since 2016. The study involved surveying American travelers about their “attitudes toward travel safety.” The researchers asked travelers about the countries they had visited in the past five years and requested ratings based on their perceived safety levels. These ratings were then supplemented with additional data from sources such as the Global Peace Index, Numbeo, and the GeoSure Global scores for major cities in each country. A weighted total was calculated for each destination, and for 2025, Iceland emerged as the top-ranked country.
“Over time, we’ve seen a lot of things change – the pandemic not least among them – and seen generations come and go, but as you’ll see from this year’s list, we’ve also seen a lot of things stay the same,” the study noted. “Just like a house with good bones, a destination has a good support structure when it comes to safety. The things that make Switzerland a safe destination for travelers are going to continue to make it safe for travelers a decade from now.”
Iceland’s rise to the top marks a significant improvement from its position in the 2024 rankings when it was listed at No. 9. The report attributes this to the country’s low population density and minimal road traffic. “It only has one major road” and is “never crowded,” the study stated. Additionally, the report pointed out, “Logic dictates that it’s hard to have traffic accidents if you don’t have traffic.”
However, the report also included a cautionary note for visitors to Iceland. “Volcanoes. Iceland is a volcanic island, and volcanic islands sometimes have volcanic eruptions. But you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone more languorous about it than the Icelanders.”
Joining Iceland in the top rankings were several other highly regarded nations for safety. Australia secured the No. 2 position, followed by Canada, Ireland, Switzerland, New Zealand, Germany, Norway, Japan, and Denmark, which completed the top 10.
Here are the safest countries for travelers in 2025:
THE SAFEST PLACES TO TRAVEL
Iceland
Australia
Canada
Ireland
Switzerland
New Zealand
Germany
Norway
Japan
Denmark
Portugal
Spain
United Kingdom
Netherlands
Sweden
Just for comparison, here is last year’s list:
Canada
Switzerland
Norway
Ireland
Netherlands
United Kingdom
Portugal
Denmark
Iceland
Australia
New Zealand
Japan
France
Spain
Brazil