European countries were known for their safety for decades and were marketed as the best places for both modern comfort and security. A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since then, and now people are afraid to walk the streets at night in some neighbourhoods of the most popular European cities, like Paris, Barcelona, and Rome.
Large cities in Europe, grappling with rising petty crime, visible social fragmentation, and political tension, have been losing their appeal to those seeking traditional, safe neighbourhoods.
Thus, the old power centers of Europe aren’t among the safest countries, but small, wealthy, and culturally homogenous European countries are on the rise, with high levels of security and strict enforcement of the law.
That said, I want to be clear that I’m not recommending any of the countries in this list as expat destinations. However, understanding which countries remain the safest in Europe is still valuable not only for expats but also for tourists, business travellers, and short-term visitors.
If you want a serious comparison of global expat destinations, our annual special report, the Expat Index, available exclusively to our Hub members, is the most comprehensive resource, where we evaluate 62 destinations across five categories and 25 sub-pillars.
In this article, I’ll explain the six safest countries in Europe in 2026 based on Numbeo’s Safety Index scores, along with their Expat Index scores where available.
Iceland, a sparsely populated North Atlantic island, is known for its strong institutions, cohesive society, and very low crime. Despite its safety and beauty, high taxes and living costs make it less ideal for expats
Located in the North Atlantic, Iceland is the second-largest island in Europe but is sparsely populated. Despite its remote geographic location, it is a well-developed country with a high level of trust in public institutions. This island nation has a small but very rich and cohesive society. With a population of approximately 380,000, almost all of whom share the same ethnic and cultural background, Iceland appears to be a closely knit community that fosters responsibility and trust within its society.
It’s no surprise to see very low crime rates in Iceland. It has a safety score of 74.5 out of 100, with violent crimes extremely rare. Icelandic police historically don’t even carry firearms on routine patrol, which is a symbol of the country's safety conditions. Of course, it is always a good idea to take common-sense safety precautions, especially in tourist areas, since petty crime could be a problem anywhere in the world.
Although Iceland is a great place to enjoy the Northern Lights, it is not an ideal destination for expats due to several factors, including high taxes, limited appealing residency options, and a high cost of living.
Slovenia, a former Yugoslav state, is one of the post-communist market-economy success stories after abandoning socialism around 1991. Since the transition to a market economy, this small European nation has performed quite well in terms of political and economic stability.
Slovenia is also doing exceptionally well regarding providing security to everyone in the country. Its high Safety Index score, 75.5 out of 100, is also an indicator of the country’s development level. Violent crimes are very rare, and trust in the police is relatively high in the country. With its homogeneous population and relaxed cities, Slovenia provides safety for its citizens and tourists without heavy surveillance or visible enforcement.
Slovenia is also ranked 14th in our Expat Index 2026, thanks to its high scores in stability, safety, the business environment, and lifestyle.
Croatia, a developed Central European country, is known for its safety, stable economy, and low crime. With safe cities and a strong tourism industry, it ranks well for stability and quality of life
Another great post-communist country with a high level of development is Croatia, located in Central Europe, bordering Slovenia. With its advanced economy, high-middle-income status, and small, homogeneous population, Croatia feels safe on so many levels. Even its big cities, like Zagreb and Rijeka, are among the safest cities in Europe.
Numbeo’s Safety Index gives Croatia a score of 75.7 out of 100. Tourism is a revenue-generating machine in Croatia, with popular cities like Dubrovnik. That’s why perceptions of safety matter so much in the country, and both officials and the public work to keep crime statistics low.
On our Expat Index 2026, Croatia placed 22nd, with its political and economic stability and pro-business policies.
This tiny Baltic nation has delivered one success story after another since its transition to a market economy and democracy in 1991. Estonia is not just a wealthy and developed country; it is one of Europe’s most digitally integrated societies, with nearly fully digitalized public services and a thriving tech startup ecosystem.
This matters when it comes to government transparency and public trust in politics. Estonia ranks third in this list, with a Safety Index of 76.8 out of 100. Violent crime in the country is negligible. Walking the streets, day or night, is generally safe, even in its largest city, Tallinn, and concern about petty crime remains low across Estonia.
The Isle of Man is a self-governing British Crown Dependency and is located in the Irish Sea between Great Britain and Ireland. Its residents are British citizens, but it's neither a UK territory nor a member of the European Union.
The Isle of Man’s established political traditions are rooted in British common law, and the island’s institutional framework is stable and predictable. As a well-functioning financial center with a population of around 90,000, the Isle of Man ranks among the safest destinations in Europe. Numbeo’s Safety Index gives it a score of 79.1 out of 100.
Andorra is at the top of the list with a score of 84.8 out of 100. It shares every typical feature of Europe’s microstates: high average income, tight migration controls, political and economic stability, and strong public trust in institutions.
Andorra is a sovereign co-principality with two co-princes: the President of France and the Bishop of Urgell in Spain. However, their roles are largely ceremonial. Andorra governs itself through an elected parliament, the General Council, and a prime minister. Violent crime in Andorra is almost non-existent, and petty crime levels remain very low.
Andorra also ranks 5th in our Expat Index 2026, just as it did the previous year, thanks to its strong performance in taxation, safety, business environment, and lifestyle.
While some Western European capitals face rising petty crime and social tensions, smaller nations like Andorra, Estonia, Slovenia, and Croatia often remain safer thanks to strong institutions, cohesive societies, and smaller populations
While many Western European capitals are facing rising petty crime, social fragmentation, and political tension, smaller nations and microstates often maintain stronger social order, higher institutional trust, and lower crime rates.
Countries such as Andorra, Estonia, Slovenia, and Croatia illustrate how efficient governance, relatively homogeneous societies, and smaller populations can contribute to safer environments.
Although I don’t recommend these countries as expat destinations, understanding which places remain the safest in Europe is still valuable for tourists, business travellers, and short-term visitors.
However, if your goal is to build a stronger long-term Plan-B, you may need to look beyond Europe. If you’d like to explore stronger options, download our special report on Plan-B Residencies & Instant Citizenships.