180 countries ranked by safety, peace, freedom and LGBT+ equality
Visiting: RecommendedLGBT+ visiting: Recommended
Cyprus splits its personality nicely: Ayia Napa for the beach crowd, Byzantine churches painted floor-to-ceiling hidden in the Troodos mountains, and Roman mosaics right under Paphos. Nicosia is the world's last divided capital, and crossing the line is history you can walk through, not danger. Very safe, very easy, and the halloumi is a religion. LGBT+ acceptance is middling but improving.
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.
Cyprus: 1.0
Ranked 39th in the world for the lowest homicide rate.
0.96 homicides per 100,000 people in 2024 — killings here are genuinely rare.
Lower than 78% of the 230 countries and territories measured.
How peaceful the country is — lower is better.
Cyprus: 1.9
Ranked 85th most peaceful country in the world.
More peaceful than 58% of the 163 countries ranked, scoring 1.933.
Barely moved — down one place since 2024.
Personal and economic freedom — higher is better.
Cyprus: 8.3
Ranked 32nd freest country in the world.
Freer than 82% of the 165 countries measured — 8.36 out of 10.
Day-to-day life (speech, movement, religion) scores 8.80; doing business and owning property, 7.75.
LGBT+ equality in law and daily life — higher is better.
Cyprus: 5.6
Ranked 47th most equal in the world for LGBT+ people.
Better for LGBT+ equality than 76% of the 197 countries scored — 56 out of 100.
The law runs ahead of public opinion here — legal protections score 75 out of 100, everyday attitudes 36.