180 countries ranked by safety, peace, freedom and LGBT+ equality
Visiting: Highly RecommendedLGBT+ visiting: Highly Recommended
Belgium rewards anyone who slows down for it: Bruges' canals before the day-trippers land, Ghent's gritty-pretty old town, the Grand Place gilded like a jewellery box, and beer still brewed by actual monks. It's safe, easy and compact — three cities in a weekend is realistic, and excellent for LGBT+ travellers too. Bring a rain jacket, order the frites, don't call it boring in front of a local.
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.
Belgium: 1.1
Ranked 44th in the world for the lowest homicide rate.
1.08 homicides per 100,000 people in 2021 — a low rate by world standards.
Lower than 75% of the 230 countries and territories measured.
How peaceful the country is — lower is better.
Belgium: 1.5
Ranked 24th most peaceful country in the world.
One of the twenty most peaceful countries on Earth — 16th of 163, scoring 1.492.
Up 4 places since 2024.
Personal and economic freedom — higher is better.
Belgium: 8.5
Ranked 24th freest country in the world.
Freer than 86% of the 165 countries measured — 8.53 out of 10.
Day-to-day life (speech, movement, religion) scores 9.21; doing business and owning property, 7.58.
LGBT+ equality in law and daily life — higher is better.
Belgium: 7.8
Ranked 11th most equal in the world for LGBT+ people.
Better for LGBT+ equality than 93% of the 197 countries scored — 78 out of 100.
The law runs ahead of public opinion here — legal protections score 94 out of 100, everyday attitudes 61.