Last year, more than two-thirds of all people surveyed said they felt safe walking alone at night, according to a Gallup poll conducted in 134 countries. But in 31 countries, less than half the population felt this way. In Venezuela and South Africa, nearly three out of four people reported feeling unsafe.

Internal conflict and repressive regimes are marked problems in many of countries where citizens feel unsafe. In Afghanistan, which received the worst possible rating from the Economist Intelligence Unit for internal organized conflict, the government continues to fight the Taliban and al-Qaeda. In both Madagascar and Gabon, recent changes in political power have led to tension among opponents.

In Chad, more than 68% of residents do not have confidence in the national government, and 74% of residents said they have no confidence in their military, the lowest percentage measured by Gallup. By comparison, among developed countries at least 53% trust the government.

Some of the nations where residents do not feel safe are among the world’s poorest, including Afghanistan and Madagascar, which were estimated to have among the lowest per capita gross domestic product (GDP) of any nations.

Some of the countries where residents feel the least safe, however, have relatively stable governments and enjoy prospering economies. Among these is South Africa, which is one of the world’s largest emerging economies. Additionally, Botswana has been led for decades by a well-functioning, democratically elected government.

Yet, government stability and prosperity do not necessarily ensure residents feel safe. While Botswana is considered to have among the most stable governments in its region, residents are among the most fearful in the world.

According to Steve Crabtree, senior research analyst at Gallup, as nations develop and their economies grow, “some countries experiencing rapid economic development may have ‘growing pains’ in terms of rising income inequality.” These inequalities, and the sense of injustice they often foster, may contribute to rising crime rates and, as a result, fears of crime.

In any country, one of the most meaningful measures of how safe people feel is the way law enforcement officials are perceived. Of the 10 nations where people feel least safe, four also had the lowest ratings of their police forces. In Bolivia and Chad, 66% and 64%, respectively, of those polled disapproved of the local police, the two worst reviews out of the nations measure.

Based on data provided by Gallup, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 10 countries where people do not feel safe walking alone at night. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) provided GDP per capita figures, and they are stated on a purchasing power parity basis. Where data was not reported, the IMF has estimated it. Life expectancy figures were taken from the World Bank. Much of the information provided regarding the safety of these countries were provided by the U.S. State Department.

These are the 10 countries where people do not feel safe.

10. Bolivia
> Pct. feel unsafe at night: 58%
> Life expectancy: 66.6 years (55th lowest)
> Corruption index: 77.5 (57th highest)
> GDP per capita: $5,099 (64th lowest)

Confrontations over coca eradication between the Bolivian government and residents in the Chapare and Yungas regions “have resulted in the use of tear gas and stronger force by government authorities,” according to the U.S. State Department. Bolivia, along with Peru, recently has passed Colombia in cocaine production, according to The Economist. The reasons for the shift are crackdowns by the Colombian government, as well as declining demand from the United States, which receives more of the drug from Colombia, and increasing demand from Europe, which receives more of its supply from Bolivia and Peru. Like several other Latin American nations, income inequality is a major problem in Bolivia, said Crabtree. In 2008, the country had one of the highest levels of income inequality of any nation, according to the World Bank.

9. Uganda
> Pct. feel unsafe at night: 59% (tied for 8th highest)
> Life expectancy: 54.1 years (21st lowest)
> Corruption index: 83.0 (33rd highest)
> GDP per capita: $1,415 (24th lowest)

Militia groups have long had a destabilizing presence in Uganda. The country successfully pushed the Lord’s Resistance Army, formed in opposition to the Ugandan government in 1986, out of the country in 2006. However, they remain active in nearby nations. More recently, terrorist activity has been documented in Uganda. In 2010, a Somali Islamist group called al-Shabaab bombed a nightclub in Kampala, killing 76. The potential for terrorist attacks “remains high,” according to the U.S. State Department. Crime also remains a major concern, especially in the northeast Karamoja region where, the State Department warns, “armed banditry, and attacks on vehicles are common.” Both the United States and United Kingdom advise their citizens to avoid the region. Uganda remains one of the poorer nations in the world, with an estimated GDP per capita of just $1,415.

8. Afghanistan
> Pct. feel unsafe at night: 59% (tied for 8th highest)
> Life expectancy: 48.3 years (4th lowest)
> Corruption index: 65.9 (46th lowest)
> GDP per capita: $1,054 (11th lowest)

The Afghanistan Transitional Authority is currently fighting armed groups in the country that are unaffiliated with the government, such as the Taliban. The internal conflicts lead to high levels of violence. The U.S. Department of State advises against all travel to Afghanistan for U.S. citizens. It notes that “no region in Afghanistan should be considered immune from violence,” and remnants of the former Taliban regime, al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations still have an active presence in the region. The country is littered with landmines, while banditry, kidnappings and insurgent attacks are common. Afghanistan’s GDP per capita in 2012 was estimated to be approximately $1,054, one of the lowest worldwide.

7. Madagascar
> Pct. feel unsafe at night: 60% (tied for 6th highest)
> Life expectancy: 66.7 years (56th lowest)
> Corruption index: 88.8 (6th highest)
> GDP per capita: $955 (9th lowest)

Madagascar is experiencing a “dramatic spike” in both the number of crimes and their severity, according to the State Department, which also notes that Madagascar is “safer than many other African countries and even certain U.S. cities.” The country has been faced with internal turmoil since President Andry Rajoelina came to power in a coup. Since then, soldiers have led several mutinies against the president that have turned violent. In 2012, the country’s GDP per capita was estimated to be just $955, one of the lowest in the world.

6. Dominican Republic
> Pct. feel unsafe at night: 60% (tied for 6th highest)
> Life expectancy: 73.4 years (89th highest)
> Corruption index: 74.6 (67th highest)
> GDP per capita: $9,646 (91st highest)

The Dominican Republic is the primary center for drug trafficking in the Caribbean area. In March, 35 security officials were arrested in the country after 680 kilos of cocaine were seized from an executive airplane. Police abuse of citizens is a rampant problem as well. According to the country’s Office of the Prosecutor General, 10% of all murders recorded in the country in 2010 were committed by police officers. The Dominican Republic, like many Latin American countries, also is experiencing an increase in domestic violence against women. In addition to growing violence against locals, the State Department notes that tourists in the country have increasingly become victims of crime as well.

5. Gabon
> Pct. feel unsafe at night: 62%
> Life expectancy: 62.7 years (45th lowest)
> Corruption index: 83.5 (28th highest)
> GDP per capita: $16,548 (58th highest)

Petty crime is common in Gabon, with more violent crimes such as armed robberies taking place in urban areas, the State Department notes. Gabon is considered to be one of the more prosperous countries in Africa due to its “small population, abundant natural resources and considerable foreign support,” according to auditor KPMG. However, much of the country remains poor due to high income inequality. In 2009, Ali Ben Bongo won a disputed election to lead the country. The election was fraught with allegations of voter fraud, as well as violence against members of the opposition party. Political protests have continued since the contested election.

4. Botswana
> Pct. feel unsafe at night: 65%
> Life expectancy: 53.0 years (20th lowest)
> Corruption index: 77.1 (58th highest)
> GDP per capita: $16,820 (57th highest)

Botswana  is especially stable, with a civilian democratic government that has led the country for more than 40 years and a strong economy that specializes in diamond mining. Demonstrating the strength of the economy, Botswana’s per capita GDP was estimated to be $16,820. This would place the nation among the top third of all countries. Despite these developments, Crabtree told 24/7 Wall St. that rising income inequality may be perceived as an injustice by many residents of developing nations. He added that “under those kinds of pressures, crime rates may rise and the prevailing sense of personal security may drop.” The State Department notes that crime is a serious concern in the country and that home invasions, smash-and-grabs and muggings are “not-uncommon.”

3. Chad
> Pct. feel unsafe at night: 67%
> Life expectancy: 49.5 years (9th lowest)
> Corruption index: 83.9 (25th highest)
> GDP per capita: $1,924 (32nd lowest)

In November 2012, the State Department restated its travel warning for Americans visiting Chad, even as the nation’s war with Sudan ended and active rebel groups now have been disarmed, due in large part to the historical volatility of the region. Because of the potential for sudden outbreaks of violence, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit, the U.S. embassy forbids unapproved visits to eastern Chad or bordering regions. The nation ranks as one of the world’s least developed, with an average life expectancy of just under 50 years, among the lowest recorded by the World Bank.

2. South Africa
> Pct. feel unsafe at night: 73%
> Life expectancy: 52.1 years (19th lowest)
> Corruption index: 80.8 (41st highest)
> GDP per capita: $11,375 (81st highest)

Armed robberies, muggings and carjackings are all problems in the South Africa, according to the State Department. Gun violence is a significant problem in the country as well, with more than half of all murders and robberies involving a firearm. There is also distrust of police among many South African residents. According to The Economist, 566 people were killed by police in 2009 and 2010, while another 294 died while in police custody. Although GDP per capita is better in South Africa than in most countries in Africa, in 2009 it had the highest income inequality in the world.

1. Venezuela
> Pct. feel unsafe at night: 74%
> Life expectancy: 74.1 years (76th highest)
> Corruption index: 70.5 (61st lowest)
> GDP per capita: $13,616 (71st highest)

In no country do people feel more unsafe than Venezuela, where the State Department says that kidnappings are a major problem. This includes “express kidnappings,” where victims are kidnapped in order to get quick cash in exchange for release. Other issues common in the country, according to the State Department, include robberies and piracy. Murder is a significant problem in the country as well. According to Venezuela’s interior minister, the country’s murder rate in 2010 was 48 per 100,000 people, while an independent estimate placed the 2011 murder rate at 67 per 100,000 people.

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