For many of us, safety is an important concern when it comes to where we choose to travel. Thankfully, The Economist is here to help, with its 2017 Safe Cities Index. Here’s a brief rundown of how the results shook out and why.
Not surprisingly, the safest cities are in East Asia and Europe. The U.S. barely makes the top 20, primarily due to problems with many cities’ infrastructure in that country. (We suspect that gun violence could also be a factor in U.S. cities’ rankings.)
Here are the five safest cities in the world.
Tokyo
Not surprisingly, the bustling Japanese metropolis has retained its position at the top of the Safe Cities Index. Its strongest performance is in digital security, which is a new category for this year’s list, encompassing things like CCTV cameras, smart meters, and digital seniors that help cities manage infrastructure and services. It has also risen in the health security category. However, it fell out of the top 10 in its infrastructure security rating.
Singapore
Part of what makes Singapore safe—at least, for people visiting the city—is the fact that people don’t dare to commit crimes. Even minor offenses like smoking in public places or chewing gum on the streetcar can merit pretty harsh punishments, so the city’s crime rate is very low. The government also stepped up security measures following terrorist attacks in Bali.
Osaka
Although Osaka has a reputation of being dangerous (by Japanese standards), it is still remarkably safe for a city of its size, which is probably how it wound up at Number 3 in the 2017 Safe Cities Index. The overall level of crime is low in Osaka, despite stereotypes depicting the city as a home for yakuza gangsters.
Toronto
The only North American city to make the top 10 in the 2017 Safe Cities Index, the Canadian capital was actually ranked best place in the world to live by The Economist two years ago. Based on factors such as livability, cost of living, business environment, democracy, safety, and food security, it came out on top.
Melbourne
The Australian city is not only number 5 in the 2017 Safe Cities Index, it’s also been named the most livable city in the world by The Economist in 2017. Between its food scene, the arts and culture attractions, and the safety of the streets, Melbourne rounds out the top five for good reason. And tourists know it, too, because in Australia, tourism is outstripping mining and farming as a means of making a living.
Want to find out how The Economist came to its ratings? Read the post explaining everything.
What do you think of The Economist’s rankings? Do you agree or disagree with their findings? Share your thoughts in the comments