Safest Cities in the World

The only Italian city among the 25 safest cities in the world, Milan ranks especially well in infrastructure security. According to several tourism guides, while Milan is generally safe for travelers, areas near the central rail station in Loreto have been known to attract pickpockets and other petty criminals.

While Paris ranks highly in measures of health and infrastructure, the French capital ranks in the bottom half of all world cities considered in personal safety. The city continues to struggle with terrorism, ranking seventh among world cities in the frequency and severity of its terrorist attacks in 2017, according to The Economist. A series of coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris killed 130 people in November 2015.

Like most U.S. metropolitan areas among the world’s safest cities, Washington, D.C. ranks highly in digital security. According to D.C.’s chief technology officer, the city’s cybersecurity efforts are bolstered by the presence of nearby federal cyber-focused agencies, such as the National Security Agency and the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center.

The only Taiwanese city included in the Safe Cities Index, Taipei ranks highly in health and personal security. Life expectancy at birth in Taipei is 83.6 years, among the longest of all cities and counties in Taiwan and more than 10 years longer than the global average.

Like many U.S. metropolitan areas ranking among the world’s safest cities, New York is a world leader in digital security. Like other U.S. cities, however, New York ranks worst in measures related to health security, such as access to health care and traffic safety.

London ranks among the top 15 world cities in measures of infrastructure and personal security. Efforts by the city that likely contribute to its high ranking include London’s wide-reaching CCTV network and the Healthy London Partnership, a collaborative health initiative that includes several local and national civic agencies.

Chicago ranks as the third best city for digital security, yet towards the middle of all 60 cities considered in measures of health, infrastructure, and personal safety. In August 2018,the University of Chicago launched the Cyber Policy Initiative, an academic program that will provide policy guidance on cyber issues to governments around the world .

The second safest major U.S. city, Los Angeles ranks highly for its digital security efforts. In August 2017, L.A. launched the Los Angeles Cyber Lab, a collaboration between city government and local business formed to help detect and mitigate the effects of cyberattacks in real time.

Like many major cities in Western Europe, Brussels ranks highly in health security. Yet, due to the threat of terror attacks — dozens were killed in terrorist bombings in March 2016 — the Belgian capital’s worst-ranking category is personal safety.

Wellington is one of several high- and upper-middle income cities to rank highly in personal security. While Wellington also ranks as the fifth best city for infrastructure safety, the New Zealand capital ranks towards the middle of all cities included in the index in health security.

The safest U.S. city, San Francisco ranks highly for its digital security efforts. In May 2019, San Francisco became the first major American city to ban the use of facial recognition software by police and other agencies, a tool which, according to some privacy advocates, has too great a potential for abuse to be responsibly implemented today.

The capital of South Korea, Seoul ranks as the third best city in Asia for health security and the fifth best worldwide. Seoul accounts for approximately one-fifth of the population of South Korea, where the life expectancy at birth is 82.7 years — more than 10 years longer than the global average.

While Barcelona faces an increased risk of flooding along its Mediterranean coastline caused by climate change, the city aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 and to zero by 2050. Barcelona received an “A” in climate leadership from climate advocacy group CDP, and of all 60 cities considered it ranks third in infrastructure security.

Madrid ranks as the second best city for infrastructure security and the 12th safest city overall of the 60 cities considered in the study. Since 2015, the Spanish capital has climbed 13 places in the Safest Cities Index.

Frankfurt, Germany, ranks third in health security, which includes factors like access to health care and traffic safety. There were 15 motor vehicle fatalities per 10,000 residents in Frankfurt in 2016, fewer than in many other major European cities.

One of the most walkable cities in the world — 44% of trips in the city are made on foot or bike — Zurich ranks as the fourth best city for health safety. There were just 7 motor vehicle fatalities per 10,000 residents in Zurich in 2016, among the least of any large European city.

While the relationship between income and crime is complicated, the wealthiest cities often have the lowest crime rates. Hong Kong — the richest city in the world as measured by the number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals who call it home — has reported a declining crime rate for 12 consecutive years. The city currently ranks as the seventh best city for personal safety.

One of the most walkable cities in the world, Stockholm also ranks high in infrastructure, personal, and health security. In 2017, there just 4 motor vehicle fatalities per 10,000 residents in Stockholm, nearly the least of any European capital.

The largest city in Australia, Sydney’s highest-ranking safety factor is health security. Life expectancy in the Sydney metropolitan area is 83.8 years, more than 11 years longer than the global average.

While Amsterdam is one of the healthiest and cleanest cities in the world, the Dutch capital’s highest-ranking safety category is digital security. In January 2019, the Port of Amsterdam launched the Cyber Security Program, a network designed to help detect and mitigate the effects of cyberattacks throughout the North Sea Canal area.

Like other cities in the Asia-Pacific region, Melbourne, Australia, ranks highly in health security. The life expectancy at birth in the Melbourne metropolitan area is 84.0 years, the longest of any city in Australia and more than 11 years longer than the average life expectancy worldwide.

Toronto ranks highly for its digital security and personal safety efforts. Forseeing the growing need for cybersecurity, the Toronto Police Service launched Operation Reboot, a task force dedicated to policing cybercrime. This led to the development of the Computer Cyber Crime Section of the police department. According to an October 2016 report from consulting firm Deloitte, more than half of all cybersecurity companies in Canada are headquartered in the Greater Toronto Area.

While the relationship between income, health, and violent crime is complicated, wealthier cities tend to have healthier populations and lower crime rates. Osaka, Japan — the 10th richest city in the world as measured by the number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals who call it home — ranks as the best city in the world for health security and the third best for personal security.

Singapore ranks as the top city in measures of infrastructure and personal security and the second safest city overall. According to the Singapore government, the PolCam network — a network of approximately 65,000 police cameras throughout the city — has helped solve more than 2,300 cases and deter a significant number of crimes since its introduction in 2012.

For the second year in a row, Tokyo tops the list of the world’s safest cities. According to The Economist, the low threat of crime in Tokyo may be due in part to the emphasis in Japanese culture on honesty and empathy. Earlier this year, the Metropolitan Police Department reported that in 2018 Tokyo citizens turned in a record 3.7 billion yen ($33.7 million) — nearly half of all cash that was reported missing for the year.