180 countries ranked by safety, peace, freedom and LGBT+ equality
Visiting: Top RecommendationLGBT+ visiting: Top Recommendation
Ireland is second in the world for peace and top five for freedom, but that's not why you go — you go because the Cliffs of Moher end in the Atlantic, the Wild Atlantic Way keeps topping itself, and a Dublin pub session is a life event. Solid on LGBT+ rights too. It will rain on you and you'll forgive it. Rent the car, take the small roads, talk to everyone.
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.
Ireland: 0.7
Ranked 16th in the world for the lowest homicide rate.
0.7 homicides per 100,000 people in 2024 — killings here are genuinely rare.
Lower than 87% of the 230 countries and territories measured.
How peaceful the country is — lower is better.
Ireland: 1.3
Ranked 7th most peaceful country in the world.
The second most peaceful country on Earth, behind only Iceland — scoring 1.260 of 163 ranked nations.
Ireland has held a top-3 position for several years running.
Personal and economic freedom — higher is better.
Ireland: 8.9
Ranked 7th freest country in the world.
One of the ten freest countries on Earth — scoring 8.92 out of 10.
Day-to-day life (speech, movement, religion) scores 9.54; doing business and owning property, 8.05.
LGBT+ equality in law and daily life — higher is better.
Ireland: 7.0
Ranked 27th most equal in the world for LGBT+ people.
Better for LGBT+ equality than 86% of the 197 countries scored — 70 out of 100.
The law runs ahead of public opinion here — legal protections score 80 out of 100, everyday attitudes 59.