Singapore is the world’s safest city in 2024 according to a study by Forbes Advisor looking into the most and least risky cities for tourists to travel to this year.
The study compared 60 international cities, looking into risk metrics such as those related to crime, personal security or health security and relying on data sourced from the US Department of State’s 2024 travel advisories (which is country-level) and The Economist’s Safe Cities Index 2021.
Out of 60 analysed cities, Singapore boasted the lowest natural disaster risk, and the second lowest health and infrastructure risks.
The study also analysed digital security risks, which it defined as the ability to freely use the internet without fear of online attacks or privacy violations. Singapore was deemed to have the second lowest digital security risk on the list.
After Singapore, the study ranked Tokyo and Toronto as the next safest cities for travelers. Tokyo was deemed to have the lowest health security risk, a testament to the quality of healthcare services in the city. Sydney in Australia takes the top spot in terms of digital security and the city also ranked as the fourth safest city.
Caracas in Venezuela was ranked the world’s riskiest city for travellers. It had the “highest health security risk, reflecting the low level and quality of healthcare services and infrastructure,” the study reported. Caracas’ crime rate also earned it the lowest travel safety rating from the U.S. State Department — a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” advisory.
Pakistan’s Karachi was deemed the second riskiest city in the study. Forbes Advisor categorised Karachi to have the highest personal security risk, as well as the fourth highest infrastructure security risk. Myanmar’s Yangon came in third place for the world’s most unsafe city for travelers, followed by Nigeria’s Lagos, Manila in the Philippines and Dhaka in Bangladesh.
Top 10 safest cities, according to the study:
1. Singapore
2. Tokyo, Japan — lowest in the “Health Security” risk metric
3. Toronto, Canada
4. Sydney, Australia — lowest in the “Digital Security” risk metric
5. Zurich, Switzerland
6. Copenhagen, Denmark — lowest in the “Personal Security” risk metric
7. Seoul, South Korea
8. Osaka, Japan
9. Melbourne, Australia
10. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Top 10 riskiest cities ranked according to the study:
1. Caracas, Venezuela — top in the “Crime” and “Health Security” risk metrics
2. Karachi, Pakistan — top in the “Personal Security” risk metric
3. Yangon, Myanmar — top in the “Digital Security” risk metric
4. Lagos, Nigeria — top in the “Infrastructure” risk metric
5. Manila, Philippines
6. Dhaka, Bangladesh
7. Bogota, Colombia
8. Cairo, Egypt
9. Mexico City, Mexico
10. Quito, Ecuador
