The latest Global Security Report by Gallup shows significant shifts in personal safety perceptions across the globe. While Israel was once considered one of the safest countries in 2022, it saw a 14% drop in safety since the October 7 Hamas attacks.
For the first time, El Salvador made it into the “safest” countries list, with 88% of its citizens reporting they feel safe walking alone at night. This impressive figure is largely attributed to the government’s aggressive anti-gang efforts led by President Nayib Bukele. El Salvador’s safety score now exceeds that of countries like Switzerland, Iceland, and Luxembourg, all by one percentage point.
However, when it comes to regions with the least sense of safety, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Sub-Saharan Africa are the least secure, with only 47% and 51% of people feeling safe walking alone after dark.
Ecuador, in particular, has seen a steep decline in safety, with just 27% of citizens feeling safe on the streets at night, marking a historic low for the nation. The security crisis in Ecuador has worsened since the pandemic, with a homicide rate nearing 50 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023. Ecuador’s situation is worse than that of countries like South Africa and Liberia, where 30% of citizens report feeling safe.
In contrast, Israel, which ranked as one of the safest countries in 2022 with 82% of people feeling safe, dropped significantly to 68% in the latest survey, a 14-point decline attributed to the ongoing conflict in the region.
On the other end of the spectrum, Kuwait tops the safety rankings, with 99% of residents saying they feel secure walking alone at night. Following Kuwait are Singapore (94%) and Norway (92%).
Globally, 70% of adults said they felt safe walking alone at night in 2023, an increase from 64% in 2013. However, this was a slight decline from previous years, showing that while safety is improving worldwide, certain regions still face significant challenges.
