180 countries ranked by safety, peace, freedom and LGBT+ equality
Visiting: Recommend CautionLGBT+ visiting: Not Recommended
Zambia invented the walking safari, and South Luangwa is still the best place on earth to feel small in front of wildlife. You get your own side of Victoria Falls ('the smoke that thunders'), plus canoe trips down the Lower Zambezi. It's friendly, safe by regional standards and refreshingly unfussy. But homosexuality carries a life sentence: LGBT+ travellers, look elsewhere.
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.
Zambia: 5.9
Ranked 61st in the world for the highest homicide rate.
An estimated 5.94 homicides per 100,000 people — an elevated rate by world standards. The 2021 estimate is the freshest figure that exists.
Higher than 66% of the 230 countries and territories measured.
How peaceful the country is — lower is better.
Zambia: 1.9
Ranked 81st most peaceful country in the world.
More peaceful than 61% of the 163 countries ranked, scoring 1.914.
Down 9 places since 2024.
Personal and economic freedom — higher is better.
Zambia: 6.8
Ranked 89th freest country in the world.
Less free than 53% of the 165 countries measured — 6.80 out of 10.
Day-to-day life (speech, movement, religion) scores 7.21; doing business and owning property, 6.24.
LGBT+ equality in law and daily life — higher is better.
Zambia: Life
Ranked 19th least equal in the world for LGBT+ people.
Homosexuality is criminalised here, with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Public attitudes score 8 out of 100 — the law and public opinion are not the same thing.