Map shows world's most dangerous countries to visit with holidaymakers warned

29 December 2023 , 10:32

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The risk map looks at four factors, climate change pictured here, and ranks countries by them (Image: travelriskmap.com)

An interactive map shows the world’s most dangerous countries to visit.

Vacationers should take note of where to and where not to head to as they plan their next trip abroad. The Risk Map, created by International SOS, takes into account a number of factors across four different categories of risk: medical, security, climate change and mental health.

Within each, it then takes into account a number of factors and has ranked countries across the globe on how safe they’re thought to be for the coming year. The company behind the map, an international leader in security and health risk, also considered the threat posed by climate change for the first time this year.

Dr Irene Lai, Global Medical Director at International SOS said: "Just one example, the extreme heat events this year, with the first ever named heatwave ‘Cerberus’ hitting Europe, may become commonplace. In addition to the physical impacts of extreme heat, there can be significant negative effects on mental health."

Due to a number of major ongoing conflict and political unrest, some nations ranked as 'Extreme' risk (travelriskmap.com)

However, whilst climate change poses a prominent and growing threat, geopolitical risks remain dominant from political instability to wars. This year has seen a continuation of Russia's bloody invasion of Ukraine, as well as Israel's sustained bombardment of Gaza, following a horrific Hamas attack.

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Due to ongoing conflicts, parts of the Middle East and Ukraine are in the ‘Extreme’ risk level in the security category. Alongside them, a string of countries across Africa, Afghanistan, Haiti and North Korea rank the most highly for medical risk.

Medical risk, pictured here, was also ranked (travelriskmap.com)

Sally Llewellyn, Global Security Director, at International SOS, said: "For the coming year, geopolitical tensions, unrest and political instability are expected to impact business operations. This is reflected in the map with the Sahel, parts of the Middle East and Ukraine in the ‘high’ or ‘extreme’ security risk category."

When it comes to climate change risk, a band of countries reaching from west to east Africa all rank ‘Very High’ risk. Alongside them, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea, the company says, are likely to be hit hard by the impacts of climate change - including humanitarian crises and disaster.

Brits will be relieved to know that the UK comes out ‘Low’ in all rankings apart from for mental health risk - the share of a population with mental health issues - where it ranks between 15 per cent and 17.5 per cent.

Kieren Williams