What are the Most Dangerous Countries in the World?

What are the Most Dangerous Countries in the World in 2023?

How do you define a dangerous country?

The Global Peace Index takes into account things like the rate of violent crime, political instability, external conflict, the intensity of internal conflict, and terrorism, among other things.

Meanwhile, Yahoo Finance defines a dangerous country as one that possesses a high rate of criminal activity, high degree of political unrest, as well as general violence. It also sourced data from The World Bank and Insight Crime, aside from the Global Peace Index.

According to a study conducted at Auburn University’s Department of Economics, a country that has a mean population of 25 million and experiences a 10% rise in crime sees a decline in revenue per year from tourism of approximately $225 million (inflation-adjusted).

It has been demonstrated that political instability has a positive correlation with crime, and it most likely has a multiplicative effect on the latter. 

In its role as the world’s preeminent military and economic power, the US has taken proactive measures to maintain political stability in a number of countries by intervening in those nations’ internal affairs. Due to the fact that it possesses a superior military, it is able to maintain the order that is predicated on predetermined guidelines.

Because there is no single answer to the problem of political instability, it is much simpler to pinpoint the source of criminal activity. Even in the realm of criminal activity, the safest bet is to take preventative measures in the most time and effort-saving manner possible until a unified theory of criminal behavior emerges that can account for all of its complexities.

Most Dangerous Countries in the World 

#1 Afghanistan

According to the 2022 Global Peace Index, Afghanistan is the most dangerous country in the world in 2022. After the US and its allies withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban were able to seize the country’s reins pretty quickly.

#2 Yemen

Another country that can be found in the Middle East is Yemen. Both Saudi Arabia and Oman can be found on its northern and eastern borders, respectively. Since 2014, Yemen has been engulfed in a civil war, which is being fought between various opposing factions. These factions include the Houthis backed by Iran, the Islah Party supported by Saudi Arabia, Hadi loyalists, as well as the Secessionist organization called Southern Transitional Council.

#3 Syria

The ongoing civil war in Syria, which has wreaked havoc on both the country’s society and its infrastructure, has transformed the territory into one of the most dangerous countries to live in the world in 2022. 

Prior to the outbreak of war in Syria, the country had a relatively low crime rate; however, war and crime are mutually reinforcing one another in the country, according to a 2017 study published in Stability, an international journal of security and development. For the purpose of raising money for the military campaign, both the government forces and the rebels are involved in illegal activities such as smuggling, extortion, and looting.

Besides, there are numerous armed groups that control various territories, rendering the nation essentially lawless due to the situation. Jabhat al-Nusra, the Free Syrian Army, Hezbollah, and Al Qaeda are some examples of these groups.

#4 Republic of South Sudan

The Republic of South Sudan, more commonly referred to as simply South Sudan, is a country in East Africa that is completely surrounded by land. It was once a part of Sudan until its separation in 2011, when it became its own country.

The United States Department of State has issued a travel warning to the citizens of the US, advising them not to go to South Sudan due to the fact that there have been reports of rape, armed robbery, and kidnapping of foreign nationals in the country.

The entire country of South Sudan, and especially the capital city of Juba, is plagued by a high rate of violent crime. According to the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the dangers facing journalists in South Sudan are particularly severe.

In 2017, a gun battle between government troops and armed rebels took place near the town of Kaya. During the conflict, a journalist for the US and the US was shot and killed nearby.

#5 Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is one more nation in the continent of Africa that has also placed as one of the most dangerous countries in the world. 

The country has been torn apart by civil unrest, a high crime rate, and decades of war, all of which have contributed to its segmented society. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, certain regions, such as the provinces of North Kivu, Ituri, Kasai, Kasai Oriental, and Kasai Central, as well as the country’s eastern region, are particularly hazardous due to the prevalence of violent conflict.

#6 Iraq

Iraq, located in the Middle East, is also among the most dangerous countries in the world. Since the invasion of the country by the US in 2003, Iraq has been in the midst of constant conflict. Terrorist organizations like Al-Qa’eda and the Islamic State, or ISIS, are known to target Iraq with their attacks.

#7 Somalia

Somalia is another country in Africa that ranked as one of the most dangerous countries in the world. 

Somalia is wracked by a protracted civil war, which has resulted in the country’s disintegration into numerous pieces. Additionally, the country is home to a large number of criminal and terrorist organizations.

#8 Central African Republic

The name of this country, the Central African Republic, gives away its location: it’s in the center of Africa. Due to the high number of reported cases of violent crime as well as the continuing civil war between the consortium of rebels and the government, it is one of the most dangerous countries in the world this year as well.

#9 Sudan

The nation of Sudan, which can be found in Southeast Africa, is currently regarded as one of the most dangerous countries in the world.

Violent conflict continues to be a major issue a Along the border between Chad and Sudan, as well as in areas bordering South Sudan, such as the disputed Abyei area. There is also an ongoing conflict between opposition militias and government forces in the states of Central Darfur and South Kordofan.

#10 Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea)

As a result of its status as a pariah nation in East Asia, North Korea is home to a perilous administration that maintains an antagonistic stance toward the international community.

According to a 2020 report from the Human Rights Watch, the investigation and pretrial detention process in North Korea is arbitrary and completely devoid of any vague notion of legal due process. Former detainees have relayed accounts of systematic torture, conditions that were hazardous and unhygienic, and forced labor that was not compensated.

In an older report from the BBC in 2017, it is estimated that approximately 120,000 people are being held without receiving a proper trial in the country. Otto Warmbier, a student from the US, was detained in 2016 and became a public figure as a result of his ordeal.

The Department of Defense in the US is actively granting deals to businesses like Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC), and Raytheon Technologies (NYSE:RTX) to develop hypersonic tech in order to deter countries such as North Korea, which are running tests on their own missile systems.

#11 Libya

Since Muammar Gaddafi was deposed as leader of Libya in 2011, the country has been wracked by internal conflict and instability. Libya is located in the north of Africa. Since April 2019, there has been a marked increase in the frequency of armed conflict in western and central Libya. This conflict has been occurring more frequently than before.

#12 Mali

Mali is another nation on the African continent that is plagued by significant levels of violence and crime across its entire territory. Al-Shabab and Boko Haram are two of the most prominent currently operating terrorist organizations.

#13 Ethiopia

Ethiopia is yet another nation that is located in the Somali Peninsula. As of the year 2022, it has become one of the most dangerous countries in the world as a result of acts of terrorism as well as an increase in the rate of crime brought on by a deficient legal system.

Attacks on civilians and members of the government are carried out by a number of different terrorist organizations, including Boko Haram, Al-Shabab, and Fano. Particularly troubled by the conflict are the regions of Tigray, Amhara, and Afar in this country.

#14 Venezuela

Venezuela, a country that can be found in South America, is regarded as one of the most dangerous countries in the world too. At a rate of 60 homicides for every 100,000 people in the population in the year 2020, it had the highest recorded homicide rate anywhere in the world.

There are a number of different violent organized crime syndicates that operate within the country. One that originated in this country is Megabandas, which originated in jails and prisons.

According to the data compiled by Insight Crime in 2018, soldiers from the armed forces of Venezuela are also engaged in illegal operation.

#15 Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso is a country in West Africa that is entirely surrounded by land. It is plagued by acts of terrorism, most notably those carried out by the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda, which aims its attacks not only at the government but also at the civilian population.

A state of emergency has been declared by the government in the entire East and Sahel regions, as well as in the provinces of Kossi and Sourou, Kenedougou and Koulpelogo. This is because of the violence that has been occurring in these areas.

#16 Colombia

Colombia, a country that is part of Latin America, is among the most dangerous countries in the world amid the lack of respect for the rule of law throughout the nation. It is home to both powerful organized criminal organizations and numerous rival paramilitary groups that are constantly at war with one another.

#17 Nigeria

The most densely populated country in Africa to make it onto the list of the most dangerous countries in the world is Nigeria.  It is the headquarters of a number of criminal organizations, including the Area Boys and the Black Axe, among others. On top of terrorist attacks brought upon by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa, the country as a whole is plagued with a high incidence of both petty and violent crimes. 

#18 Cameroon

Cameroon, which is found in Central Africa, is considered to be one of the most dangerous countries in the world primarily due to the threat posed by acts of terrorism and criminal activity. Boko Haram is a terrorist organization that is currently active in the country. In order to finance its operations, the organization engages in criminal activities such as kidnapping for ransom, burglary, and extortion.

In the Southwest and Northwest regions of Cameroon, members of secessionist groups also operate as members of crime syndicates. In these regions, they extract money from business owners by threatening them with violence and intimidating them with threats of violence.

#19 Niger

Niger is a country found in West Africa that is completely surrounded by land on all sides. It is plagued with a high rate of violent and nonviolent crime, as well as acts of terrorism and political unrest. Terrorists can be found operating across the entirety of northern Niger, particularly in the regions that border Burkina Faso, Mali, and Libya. Niamey, the city that serves as Niger’s capital, has an especially high rate of violent crime.

#20 Burma

The region known as Southeast Asia is where the country of Burma can be found. There are a number of well-organized and potentially lethal armed groups that operate within the country, with the US Army being the most prominent of these organizations. In addition to this, the Burmese military has a well-deserved reputation for being notoriously cruel and for being involved in illegal activities.

#21 Chad

Chad is the only country in Africa that is completely surrounded by other countries. Numerous insurgent groups and paramilitary organizations call the north and east regions of the country their home. These organizations are involved in a variety of forms of trafficking, one of which is the trafficking of human beings. Bandits, outlaws, robbers, and members of road gangs are abundant in the most northern and eastern parts of the country in the country’s extreme interior.

#22 State of Eritrea (Eritrea)

Eritrea is a nation that can also be found in the Somali Peninsula. According to the Organized Crime Index, the prevalence of the practice of human trafficking in Eritrea is estimated to be the highest of any country in all of Africa in 2021. In addition to this, landmines are prevalent throughout the country’s more isolated regions.

#23 Burundi

Burundi is a nation that can only be accessed by land and is found in Southeast Africa. The majority of the country is plagued by a widespread problem with both minor and serious criminal activity.

In addition to this, it is frequently the target of armed assaults carried out by groups that are based in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), specifically in the provinces of Cibitoke and Bubanza, which are located in close proximity to the border between the DRC and Rwanda.

#24 Mozambique

East African country Mozambique is also one of the most dangerous countries in the world. Despite the fact that it is not nearly as dangerous as many of the other countries on the list, the US Department of State still advises exercising extreme caution due to the high prevalence of muggings in the country. A number of municipalities within the province of Cabo Delgado are also under threat from terrorist activity.

#25 Kenya

Due to the high risk of terrorist attacks and violent crime in certain regions of Kenya, including Turkana and the border with Somalia, the US Department of State has issued a travel warning advising citizens to exercise extreme caution if they plan to visit that country.

Most Dangerous Countries in the World: Conclusion

Afghanistan retains its title as the nation with the lowest overall level of peace for the fifth year in a row. According to the findings of the Global Peace Index report, this nation, along with Yemen, Syria, Russia, and South Sudan, has been one of the 10 nations with the lowest scores for overall peacefulness over the past three years.

You better stay away from these countries as much as possible. Although no territory across the globe can offer perfect security and protection, it would help to be in safer countries if not the safest countries in the world.

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Adam is an internationally recognised author on financial matters, with over 588.1 million answers views on Quora.com and a widely sold book on Amazon and a contributor on Forbes.