Canada recognized as the safest country to travel to
It's up from 6th place last year.
The post-pandemic period is marked by an increased interest in travel, with people seeking unique experiences and wanting to explore undiscovered territories.
In its latest, ninth annual travel trends report, insurance company Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection analyzes the countries considered safest for travelers.
The study surveyed 1,702 people and used data from the Global Peace Index and security ratings from the U.S. Department of State to assess the level of security in various aspects:
- medical coverage;
- the threat of terrorism;
- extreme weather conditions;
- security guarantees for marginalized groups.
Top 15 safest countries for travelers in 2024:
- Canada (6th place in 2023);
- Switzerland (9th place in 2023);
- Norway (5th place in 2023);
- Ireland (12th place in 2023);
- Netherlands (1st place in 2023);
- United Kingdom (14th place in 2023);
- Portugal (not in the top 15 in 2023);
- Denmark (2nd place in 2023);
- Iceland (3rd place in 2023);
- Australia (4th place in 2023);
- New Zealand (10th place in 2023);
- Japan (not in the top 15 in 2023);
- France (not ranked in the top 15 in 2023);
- Spain (11th place in 2023);
- Brazil (not in the top 15 in 2023).
Canada, up from sixth place in 2023, topped the list of safest countries for travelers in 2024. Its cold climate and low population density give it a high safety score.
That said, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection emphasizes the need for caution in Canada due to the risk of wildfires and deteriorating air quality that can be seen in the country's largest cities.
According to Britannica, Canada has the second largest total land area in the world and the longest coastline. According to the Better Life Index, Canada outperforms many countries in terms of income, educational standards, employment, health care, the environment, life satisfaction and social interactions.
Canadians rate their overall life satisfaction at 7 out of 10, above the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development average of 6.7.
Research methodology
Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection has a rich history of surveying travelers about their travel destinations, travel motivations and safety preferences. Since 2016, the company has regularly conducted such surveys.
The surveys ask respondents to indicate the countries they have visited in the last five years, and only those who have been to a particular country can rate it in terms of safety.
The collected data is then supplemented with information from other sources, such as the Global Peace Index and travel safety ratings from the U.S. Department of State, as well as averages from GeoSure Global for major cities in each assessed country. Based on the data collected, a weighted score is generated that reflects the overall safety level of the country.
The advantage of this methodology is its balance. No single factor unduly influences the final rating, allowing each indicator to make its own contribution to the overall safety assessment.
