The Safest and Best Countries for Women
In today’s world, safety is a primary concern for women. Whether traveling solo or looking for a new home, women need to know the safest countries to live in. However, safety isn’t the only factor that matters to women. Gender equality, inclusivity, and a welcoming culture are also important.
In this article, you can explore the best and safest countries for women to live in, from the two indexes as references:
- Women Peace and Security Index 2021-22 (WPS Index) and
- The Global Peace Index by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP).
Best Countries For Women
The Women, Peace, and Security Index ranks 167 countries based on women’s inclusion, justice, and security. According to the 2021-22 WPS Index, the top five best countries for women are:
- Norway
- Finland
- Iceland
- Denmark, and
- Luxembourg.
The best countries for women have strong laws and policies that promote gender equality. Also, they provide a safe environment for women to live and work in. Women in these countries also have access to healthcare and education, which contributes to their overall well-being.
Another useful resource for assessing a country’s safety is the Institute for Economics & Peace’s Global Peace Index. The safest countries that rank highest on this index include Iceland, New Zealand, Portugal, Austria, and Denmark. These countries are characterized by low rates of violence, political instability, and conflict. The top five safest countries according to this index are:
- Iceland
- New Zealand
- Ireland
- Denmark, and
- Austria.
It’s difficult to pinpoint which is the most sexually open country in the world. Yet, many countries are known for their progressive attitudes toward sexuality and gender. These include the Netherlands, Denmark, and Canada, where sex education is comprehensive and progressive. Also, they are the countries where attitudes toward sexuality are generally liberal and accepting. Let’s now look at some of the safe countries to visit.
Norway
According to the WPS Index, Norway is the safest country in the world for women. The country aims to empower women and expand opportunities for them. So, gender equality is a very important issue for Norway. The country also consents to many international agreements regarding human rights and the eradication of gender-based discrimination. Norway ranks 17th country among the safest countries in the world, according to GPI Index.
Finland
Finland ranks the second safest country for women to live on the index. The country indeed has a long history of gender equality. It was also the first country to grant full political rights to women in 1906. Women have equal access to healthcare and education in Finland as well. Another reason for Finland to be one of the best countries for women is that family leaves are distributed fairly between parents. Also, it’s illegal to discriminate between genders, gender identity, and gender expression in Finland.
Iceland
Another Nordic country, Iceland, is among the most female-friendly countries in the world. Gender equality is protected and supported in many ways including the Act on Equal Status and Equal Rights of Women and Men. What’s more, companies with more than 25 employees need to have a gender equality program. Also, they need to review their targets every three years according to the law.
Iceland also stands out as the safest country in the world, according to GPI’s index. There’s political stability, a low level of the homicide rate, and violent crime in Iceland.
Denmark
One of the safest countries for travel, and for women is Denmark. Equality is highly valued in this country. What’s more, you can see women more prominently in business and men in child-raising. The parental leave in Denmark is quite substantial, and there’s a tax-subsidized daycare. Also, almost 40 percent of the parliament in Denmark consists of women. Many ministers are also women, which makes Denmark one of the countries with gender equality. It also ranks the fourth safest country in GPI’s index, and crime rates are really low in this country.
Luxembourg
Many people consider Luxembourg the most safe country for a woman in world. The country aims for clearing all gender stereotypes and for promoting gender equality. It also fights against domestic abuse through legislation. The country has a Ministry of Equality between Women and Men as well. This makes Luxembourg the only EU country to have such a ministry dedicated to gender equality.
In short, there’s no one safest place for women in world; luckily, there are a lot! You can consider paying a visit to these safe countries and feel the experience closely.