How this started
TheWanderList is a travel list I started making for myself in 2023, to figure out the best places to visit on my travels and the places I should avoid. Over the past few years I ended up putting so much work into it that I thought I'd share it.
What's in it
180 countries, each scored on homicide, road deaths, conflict, personal freedom, LGBT rights and women's safety. Every country gets its own page: the numbers, where it ranks, a few lines on what that means once you're actually there, and an overall verdict.
Where the numbers come from
I don't make any of them up. They come from the WHO, the UN, the Uppsala Conflict Data Program, Freedom House, Equaldex and Georgetown's WPS Index — the sources page lists every one and explains where I've drawn the lines between the colours. What I add is the writing.
How often it's updated
Most of the sources publish once a year and I update the list as they do. The year in the masthead is the edition. This one was last updated in September 2026.
What it isn't
Official travel advice. An index is a snapshot and things change fast, so check your own government's advisories before you book.
Who's behind it
Just me. There's no money in it — no ads, no affiliate links, nobody paying to be on the list. It's made and hosted in Europe, with no trackers selling your visit.
Think I've got something wrong?
If a score is out of date, a source is missing, or I've been unfair to a country, write to me. The list has got better every time someone has.