180 countries ranked by safety, peace, freedom and LGBT+ equality
Visiting: Top RecommendationLGBT+ visiting: Top Recommendation
The Netherlands has more bikes than people and it shows in the mood — everything is close, flat and faintly amused. Amsterdam's canals and museums headline, but Utrecht, Haarlem and the spring tulip fields deserve their days. It was the first country to legalise same-sex marriage and remains among the world's best for LGBT+ travellers. Book rooms early; everyone else has had this idea.
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.
Netherlands: 0.7
Ranked 16th in the world for the lowest homicide rate.
0.66 homicides per 100,000 people in 2024 — killings here are genuinely rare.
Lower than 88% of the 230 countries and territories measured.
How peaceful the country is — lower is better.
Netherlands: 1.5
Ranked 22nd most peaceful country in the world.
One of the twenty most peaceful countries on Earth — 14th of 163, scoring 1.491.
Holding steady — unchanged since 2024.
Personal and economic freedom — higher is better.
Netherlands: 8.8
Ranked 8th freest country in the world.
One of the ten freest countries on Earth — scoring 8.81 out of 10.
Day-to-day life (speech, movement, religion) scores 9.40; doing business and owning property, 7.97.
LGBT+ equality in law and daily life — higher is better.
Netherlands: 7.7
Ranked 14th most equal in the world for LGBT+ people.
Better for LGBT+ equality than 92% of the 197 countries scored — 77 out of 100.
The law runs ahead of public opinion here — legal protections score 89 out of 100, everyday attitudes 64.