Escape Hunter Stream Top 20 Safest Cities in the World

Top 20 Safest Cities in the World

There are places in the World, where travelers needn't worry much about about their personal safety, not about their financial safety.
Recently, "The Economist" has put together a list of the World's safest cities, based on their "2015 Safe Cities Index".

Which are the World's safest cities? The places where you don't have to look over your shoulder and don't think constantly about mugging, bag-snatching or even kidnapping...

The top safest city in the World you can see below... Can you guess it?
If not, read the list below the photo!

I've actually been to quite a few of these cities, but oddly, the ones I'm most attracted to are actually less safe.

The list by "The Economist" was put together by taking account of a variety of factors - not only personal safety, but also infrastructure safety and others have been taken into account.

Here goes the list...

#1 Tokyo

It has over 35 million inhabitants in its metropolitan agglomeration. It could be an entire country.
Tokyo's safety records are amazing. In fact, I never even saw a single cop anywhere. For a long time, I didn't even know how they look like!

#2 Singapore

The island-country-city with drastic laws, tight regulations. The result is visible: Singapore is the second safest country & city in the World!
Singapore is super-safe, been there, loved the experience!

#3 Osaka

Although I've only been for 3-4 hours, I can say it felt approximately as safe as Tokyo. Still, some Japanese friends told "Osaka is Yakuza area", the Japanese mafia operates in the area. Apparently, they're no match for the Cosa Nostra.

#4 Stockholm

Nordic cities have the reputation of being safe, so Stockholm made it into the Top 20, even though there were some massive riots in 2013.
According to this list, Stockholm is the safest European city.

#5 Amsterdam

Even during my trip I did feel the high level of safety in Amsterdam. Super-clean city, I haven't seen many shady creeps either...
Rotterdam is different though. Especially at night, it abounds with shady creep gangs.

#6 Sydney

Overall, in recent years, Sydney's reputation in terms of crime has gotten better and better.
The most dangerous parts of the city remain its entertainment districts.

#7 Zürich

Property theft is relatively low, but some pickpocketing still occurs.
Overall, both locals and foreigners feel very safe when walking the streets of Zürich.

#8 Toronto

Multi-ethnic and prosperous, with huge distances between its neighbourhoods, Toronto has made it into the top list.
Crime rate in Toronto has been diminishing during recent years and it is considered one of North America's safest cities. Toronto's homicide rate is 23 times lower than New York's.

#9 Melbourne

Melbourne is an exceptionally friendly and colourful city from Australia that also ranks very high on this safety list.
Some consider it Australia's "hippiest" city...

#10 New York

Despite the presence of filthy ghettos, New York has made it into this top list by "The Economist".
One has to take account of the multitude of factors they measured. Otherwise I wouldn't personally believe New York would make it even into the Top 100.

#11 Hong Kong

Although port cities tend to have a higher rate of crime and, they tend to be shadier, Hong Kong scores this high on the safety list: place 11.

#12 San Francisco

The poor neighbourhoods are generally more dangerous with violent crime occurring too.
Interestingly, San Francisco has the largest population of homeless per capita in the whole of the United States.

#13 Taipei

Taiwan's capital is a safe city, according to "The Economist". Crime rate overall is decreasing.
But, this Forbes article, referring to another ranking list, mentions Taiwan's "traffic hazard". Apparently, traffic-related risks are elevated in the country.

#14 Montreal

The violent crimes are rather scarce, but property crimes, such as car theft are abundant.
The northern parts, such as the Nord and Saint-Michel areas are bad-famed areas. Violent attacks, even shootings occur at times.

#15 Barcelona

"The Economist" considers Barcelona the World 15th safest city. I personally feel surprised it even made it into the list.
The city overall feels quite safe, but it has fast slumish, even ghetto-like neighbourhoods where shady creeps, criminals and street hookers roam.

#16 Chicago

One the "capital of gangsters", Chicago's reputation seems to have improved a lot from the point-of-view of safety.
Detroit isn't too far, but that's almost a city-wide slum where you'd be scared to walk even during daytime.

#17 Los Angeles

LA is another surprise to me - I honestly didn't expect it to make it into this top list.
Los Angeles used to be a crime nest throughout the 20th century. Perhaps the recent safety measures and the installation of surveillance cameras has improved the crime rates.
When writing this article, the southern and southeastern parts of Los Angeles were the most dangerous areas.

#18 London

Muggings do occur and pickpocketing is very common. Still, "The Economist" believes London is the 18th safest city in the World.
During my trip to London in 2010, it felt very safe, clean, organized. But I have to admit, I haven't been to the bad-famed area: London's south side.

#19 Washington DC

Washington DC didn't have that good of a reputation just a few years ago.
I remember seeing TV report about how dangerous certain parts of the city are and how much more dangerous it is than New York.

#20 Frankfurt

Although not Germany's capital, it certainly is its financial capital.
Bustling busy city, both an important industrial and financial centre. Besides these, it is a highly important transportation knot. Frankfurt is a busy city that manages to keep itself safe.

My Thoughts on the Top 20 Safest Cities List

To be honest, I'm surprised to find the following in the Top 20 list: Barcelona, Los Angeles, New York, Washington DC, but even London and Hong Kong.

Barcelona didn't feel at all "safe", just relatively safe, I'd say. In 2010 I witnessed a bag-snatching event. At least the part when the thief was running away.

I honestly find this list questionable.

As for the cities in the very top: Tokyo, Singapore, Osaka. I've been to all of them. They're super-safe. No doubt about it.

In Japan, there even are deposits where they collect lost items, where you can even find you own lost wallet (should anyone find it, they will bring it to the special deposit).

Japan has an unimaginable degree of civilization. I was amazed. It's the safest, cleanest place I've ever been to.
It applies to all of Japan, really.

As for safety in Singapore: it's a country with very strict rules and heavy fines, death penalty and harsh punishments even for jaywalking or hugging someone without permission.

How about you? Have you been to these cities?

Did you unusually safe or in high danger in any particular city that you've been to?

Feel free to leave your comments down below on this page!

By the way, the full document in PDF is available here: The Safe Cities Index 2015.

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