180 countries ranked by safety, peace, freedom and LGBT+ equality
Visiting: Top RecommendationLGBT+ visiting: Top Recommendation
Switzerland tops the freedom rankings and pretty much everything else: the Matterhorn, the seventy-two waterfalls of the Lauterbrunnen valley, lake steamers, trains that apologise for ninety seconds' delay. It's as safe as travel gets and strong on LGBT+ rights. The catch is the bill — coffee costs what lunch costs elsewhere. The scenery, to be fair, doesn't overcharge.
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.
Switzerland: 0.5
Ranked 10th in the world for the lowest homicide rate.
0.5 homicides per 100,000 people in 2024 — killings here are genuinely rare.
Lower than 91% of the 230 countries and territories measured.
How peaceful the country is — lower is better.
Switzerland: 1.3
Ranked 9th most peaceful country in the world.
One of the ten most peaceful countries on Earth — 5th of 163, scoring 1.294.
Barely moved — down one place since 2024.
Personal and economic freedom — higher is better.
Switzerland: 9.1
Ranked 2nd freest country in the world.
The freest country on Earth by this measure, scoring 9.15 out of 10.
Day-to-day life (speech, movement, religion) scores 9.77; doing business and owning property, 8.28.
LGBT+ equality in law and daily life — higher is better.
Switzerland: 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 76 out of 100, everyday attitudes 64.