180 countries ranked by safety, peace, freedom and LGBT+ equality
Visiting: Not RecommendedLGBT+ visiting: Not Recommended
Everyone falls for Jamaica — the beaches, the music, the coffee grown up in the Blue Mountains. And the island deserves the love. But the murder rate is one of the highest in the world, and while it rarely touches tourists, it's not something we can wave away. Homosexuality is still illegal too. Most visitors stay inside the resorts, and honestly, that's the sensible way to do it.
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.
Jamaica: 40.4
Ranked 3rd in the world for the highest homicide rate.
40.36 homicides per 100,000 people in 2024 — a high rate by any standard.
Higher than 97% of the 230 countries and territories measured.
How peaceful the country is — lower is better.
Jamaica: 2.0
Ranked 71st least peaceful country in the world.
More peaceful than 43% of the 163 countries ranked, scoring 2.047.
Slipped 13 places since 2024 — one of the year's bigger falls.
Personal and economic freedom — higher is better.
Jamaica: 7.8
Ranked 47th freest country in the world.
Freer than 75% of the 165 countries measured — 7.89 out of 10.
Day-to-day life (speech, movement, religion) scores 8.19; doing business and owning property, 7.46.
LGBT+ equality in law and daily life — higher is better.
Jamaica: Illegal
Ranked 55th least equal in the world for LGBT+ people.
Homosexuality is criminalised here, with a maximum penalty of ten years imprisonment with hard labour.
Public attitudes score 18 out of 100 — the law and public opinion are not the same thing.