180 countries ranked by safety, peace, freedom and LGBT+ equality
Visiting: Top RecommendationLGBT+ visiting: Highly Recommended
Japan just works. The trains are never late, nobody hassles you, and you can wander any city at 2am without a second thought. It's also cheaper than its reputation once the flight is paid for — a bowl of proper ramen costs less than a sandwich back home. Eat everything, book the onsen, get out to the small towns, and accept now that one trip won't be enough.
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.
Japan: 0.2
Ranked 5th in the world for the lowest homicide rate.
0.23 homicides per 100,000 people in 2024 — killings here are genuinely rare.
Lower than 94% of the 230 countries and territories measured.
How peaceful the country is — lower is better.
Japan: 1.4
Ranked 18th most peaceful country in the world.
One of the twenty most peaceful countries on Earth — 12th of 163, scoring 1.440.
Up 3 places since 2024.
Personal and economic freedom — higher is better.
Japan: 8.6
Ranked 20th freest country in the world.
Freer than 88% of the 165 countries measured — 8.60 out of 10.
Day-to-day life (speech, movement, religion) scores 9.16; doing business and owning property, 7.83.
LGBT+ equality in law and daily life — higher is better.
Japan: 5.3
Ranked 55th most equal in the world for LGBT+ people.
Better for LGBT+ equality than 72% of the 197 countries scored — 53 out of 100.
Law and public attitudes sit close together, at 57 and 50 out of 100.