Credit: Adobe Stock & Travel Risk Map
World’s Most Dangerous Countries To Visit In 2026
The most dangerous countries in the world to visit for 2026 have been revealed.
If you were planning on enjoying a little globe trotting this year, these are the destinations you are going to want to avoid.
The Risk Map has been updated for 2026 following its previous iteration, to explain which locations around the world are considered to be the most dangerous.
The danger surrounding these regions could stem from political upheaval, crime, terrorism, violent protests, war, or outbreaks of serious illnesses.
What is the Risk Map?
The Risk Map is put together by Riskline – an intelligence provider focused exclusively on travel – and Safeture – a risk management-based technological hub.
The map is intended to highlight global travel risks, revealing emerging trends, shifting hotspots and areas of stability.
The Risk Map allows organizations and individuals to plan safer journeys through shared intelligence surrounding various regions around the world.
Why might a country appear on the Risk Map?
Every year the map may alter, whether that be slightly or dramatically, depending on several factors.
The outbreak of war or a political revolution would likely severely destabilize a region, for instance.
However, a country’s government imposing stricter laws and controls may not necessarily make a nation overly dangerous, but could still provide enough disruption to warrant warnings surrounding visiting.
Health and medical risks also factor highly into a country being named on the Risk Map, with outbreaks of preventable disease, shortages of medical supplies, and limited access to medical care all major reasons for a nation or specific city appearing on the map.
Widespread crime, especially related to gang or cartel related violence, obviously features highly on the map.
If a country has tensions with a bordering nation, then this also can lead to a location being named as a risky place to visit, even if the countries are not at war.
A lack of infrastructure also presents serious risks in various countries, whether it be restricted flight access in and out of somewhere or public transport, roads, train tracks, etc., being in need of repair or improvement.
Widespread poverty can be a major contributing factor to these conditions, as well as lack of suitable and safe accomodation.
Global landscape continues to provide severe danger across the globe
Armed have continued to escalate across the world over the past 12 months and are expected to last throughout 2026.
Wars in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and America’s public threats towards Greenland and several Latin American nations, such as Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela, indicate that tensions are going to remain high and potentially even exacerbate, this year.
Where are the most dangerous countries in the world in 2026?
Riskline and Safeture have spotlighted several regions in this year’s Risk Map, highlighting continued tensions across the globe, along with weak governance, prolonged military activity, and terrorism threats.
In terms of military activity, Riskline has listed Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Pakistan as the top of the list of least safe countries in the world, respectively, followed by Sudan, South Sudan, Ukraine, Haiti, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Somalia, citing ongoing conflicts, civil unrest, and widespread crime.
When it comes to high-risk countries in terms of health and medical risks, Afghanistan once again tops Riskline’s list on the Risk Map, who assess it as the worst for medical risk.
Also listed for health and medical risks are, in order; Papa New Guinea, Central African Republic, South Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Haiti, Venezuela, Guyana and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Infrastructure and government control-wise, Afghanistan, Myanmar and North Korea are listed as the most dangerous countries in the world.
Travel to Papua New Guinea, Libya, Somalia, Mali, Haiti, Venezeula and Guyana also carries considerable risk.
Which cities are the most dangerous in the world?
As far as specific cities are concerned, Riskline lists the following as the least safe on the globe: Kabul (Afghanistan), Quetta (Pakistan), Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea), Dili (East Timor), Mogadishu (Somalia), Khartoum (Sudan), Goma (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Port-au-Prince (Haiti), Caracas (Venezuela), Guatemala City (Guatemala).
Some countries and regions notable by their absence from the above lists are Lebanon, Iran, the West Bank and Gaza, and Israel. In June of 2025, these locations were listed as ‘extreme’ on the Risk Map, but were then reduced to ‘high’ following ceasefires.
Martinique peaked at ‘medium’ risk over the last year after stabilizing following protests. Despite unrest, New Caledonia was able to improve risk-wise, although Turks and Caicos spiked due to widespread crime. Increased danger related to Jihadist attacks, Gen Z protests, and post-election unrest saw Mali, Nepal, and Mozambique, respectively, become more dangerous.
Cities such as Beirut, Damascus, Tehran, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv all mirrored the national unrest of their respective countries, while Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar rose to ‘extreme’ following militia attacks and natural disasters.
Where are the safest cities in the world?
Conversely, Riskline also lists the top 10 safest cities in the world, so mark the following places down on potential vacation destinations for 2026: Singapore, Perth (Australia), Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), Bern (Switzerland), Reykjavik (Iceland), Munich (Germany), Ottawa (Canada), Montevideo (Uruguay), Tokyo (Japan), Vancouver (Canada).
Of course, given the precarious nature of the modern world, the risk attached to all the aforementioned nations, as well as those who may become involved with them could fluctuate significantly over the next 12 months.
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