This is a List of the 10 Most Insecure Countries in the World

Research by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) reveals ten countries deemed the least safe globally, based on a Global Peace Index (GPI) score exceeding 3. A higher GPI score indicates a lower level of safety. In 2019, Afghanistan was ranked the least safe country with a score of 3.574, dropping one position from 162nd to 163rd compared to the previous year.

Syria showed improvement, rising one position to 162nd with a score of 3.566. In 2018, the country under Bashar al-Assad's leadership held the lowest ranking. South Sudan occupied the third least safe position with a score of 3.526 (161st).

Yemen (score 3.412) and Iraq (score 3.369) held the fourth and fifth positions, respectively, among the world's least safe countries. Further down the list, several African nations followed: Somalia (score 3.300), South Africa (score 3.296), and Libya (score 3.285). Russia ranked 154th, the tenth least safe country, with a score of 3.093.

The IEP's research encompassed 163 countries, representing 99.7% of the global population. The study utilized 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators across three thematic areas: societal safety and security; ongoing domestic and international conflict; and level of militarization.