180 countries ranked by safety, peace, freedom and LGBT+ equality
Visiting: Top RecommendationLGBT+ visiting: Top Recommendation
Austria does the good life better than almost anyone. Vienna's coffee houses are a protected way of being, Salzburg is baroque perfection, and the Alps start where Innsbruck's streets stop. Everything is safe, punctual and slightly formal — you'll adjust. In winter it's ski country, in summer it's lakes and mountain huts, and the pastry situation never lets up.
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.
Austria: 1.0
Ranked 39th in the world for the lowest homicide rate.
0.99 homicides per 100,000 people in 2024 — killings here are genuinely rare.
Lower than 77% of the 230 countries and territories measured.
How peaceful the country is — lower is better.
Austria: 1.3
Ranked 9th most peaceful country in the world.
One of the ten most peaceful countries on Earth — 4th of 163, scoring 1.294.
Barely moved — down one place since 2024.
Personal and economic freedom — higher is better.
Austria: 8.5
Ranked 24th freest country in the world.
Freer than 87% of the 165 countries measured — 8.54 out of 10.
Day-to-day life (speech, movement, religion) scores 9.24; doing business and owning property, 7.57.
LGBT+ equality in law and daily life — higher is better.
Austria: 7.3
Ranked 22nd most equal in the world for LGBT+ people.
Better for LGBT+ equality than 89% of the 197 countries scored — 73 out of 100.
The law runs ahead of public opinion here — legal protections score 87 out of 100, everyday attitudes 60.