180 countries ranked by safety, peace, freedom and LGBT+ equality
Visiting: Highly RecommendedLGBT+ visiting: Recommended
Transylvania is real and it's wonderful: fortified Saxon villages, the hairpin theatre of the Transfăgărășan road, and Carpathian forests holding Europe's largest brown-bear population. Bucovina's painted monasteries seal it. Romania is safe, free and huge value — the wilderness-to-cost ratio might be Europe's best. LGBT+ acceptance trails behind, so some awareness helps outside Bucharest.
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.
Romania: 1.1
Ranked 44th in the world for the lowest homicide rate.
1.12 homicides per 100,000 people in 2024 — a low rate by world standards.
Lower than 74% of the 230 countries and territories measured.
How peaceful the country is — lower is better.
Romania: 1.7
Ranked 52nd most peaceful country in the world.
More peaceful than 77% of the 163 countries ranked, scoring 1.721.
Down 2 places since 2024.
Personal and economic freedom — higher is better.
Romania: 8.0
Ranked 43rd freest country in the world.
Freer than 77% of the 165 countries measured — 8.06 out of 10.
Day-to-day life (speech, movement, religion) scores 8.59; doing business and owning property, 7.32.
LGBT+ equality in law and daily life — higher is better.
Romania: 4.7
Ranked 74th most equal in the world for LGBT+ people.
Better for LGBT+ equality than 60% of the 197 countries scored — 47 out of 100.
The law runs ahead of public opinion here — legal protections score 60 out of 100, everyday attitudes 33.