Picturesque view of Ghana’s capital city. (Image: Getty)
When you think of the safest countries in the world, your mind might take you to New Zealand, or perhaps Singapore or Iceland.
You’d be right to think these countries are among the world’s safest. According to World Population Review, Iceland is the world’s safest country, followed by New Zealand in fourth and Singapore in fifth. Ireland is second, and Austria is third.
And you’d be forgiven for believing that Africa is not home to the world’s most secure states. The data demonstrates this: Of the world’s top ten most dangerous countries, four are found in Africa.
Yet, despite this, one African state is just outside the world’s top twenty safest countries—it’s even 12 places above the UK.
Express.co.uk unpicks which African nations are the safest on the planet.
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The Central Business District in the Botswanan capital. (Image: Getty)
Zambia
According to World Population Review, Zambia is the 56th safest country in the world, ahead of states like Costa Rica and Bosnia & Herzegovina, but below countries like Serbia and Uruguay.
Zambia’s ranking, like all others in the list, is based on its Global Peace Index (GPI) for 2024. The GPI is measured using 23 quantitative and qualitative indicators. It is scored out of five, and the lower the score, the safer the country.
According to the data, Zambia is safer than it was in 2021, but its GPI spiked in 2022 and 2023 before returning to its lowest level in four years.
An aerial shot of the capital of Mauritius. (Image: Getty)
Ghana
Ghana is one place better off than Zambia, with a GPI of 1.938 compared to Zambia’s 1.948. However, it’s been getting less safe.
In 2021, its GPI was 1.715, growing to 1.759 a year later and 1.799 in 2023. Nevertheless, the West African state is still the continent’s fourth-safest.
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Botswana
Botswana has undergone major economic improvements in recent decades, and the country is being heralded as one of Africa’s economic success stories.
With a GPI score of 1.863, it is the 50th safest country on earth – ahead of UAE but below Laos and Indonesia.
According to World Population Review, it’s the safest country on the African mainland.
Madagascar
The world’s second-largest island country, behind Indonesia and four places above the UK, is the world’s 44th safest country.
The island, found off the coast of Mozambique, has a population of over 30 million and a GPI of 1.833. That puts it above South Korea in terms of safety, but below Argentina.
Mauritius
Africa’s safest country is actually found over 1,400 miles off the coast of mainland Africa. Nevertheless, it is officially an African state.
Mauritius’ GPI is 1.577, making it the 22nd safest country on earth. That puts it above the UK in 32, Italy in 31, Norway in 26 and Spain in 23.