Which Countries Are Among the Safest in the Americas in 2025
Based on recent indices and reports, the following countries tend to show up at or near the top in safety, peacefulness, or low crime rates in the Americas. They are often recommended for expats, retirees, or people considering relocating.
| Country | What Makes It Safe / Key Strengths |
|---|---|
| El Salvador | Dramatic improvements in public safety, especially in lowering homicide rates — in some reports, the lowest in Latin America. Crackdowns on gang violence and state measures have contributed. [Colombia One] |
| Chile | Consistently ranked highly in safety indices (low homicide rates, strong institutions, rule of law). [Argentina Expat] |
| Uruguay | Stable society, good governance, low violent crime, relatively high rule of law. [Argentina Expat] |
| Argentina | One of the safer large countries in Latin America; improvements in homicide and kidnapping rates in recent years. [Argentina Expat] |
| Costa Rica | Though safety is relative, it's often among the better places in Central America with decent institutional strength and relatively fewer violent crimes in many areas. [Argentina Expat] |
| Canada | Globally known for safety, low crime especially violent crime, strong institutions. In the Americas safety rankings it usually scores very high. [Numbeo] |
| Cuba | Keeps showing up with a favorable safety index in several of the rankings in the region. [Numbeo] |
Why These Countries Rank Safer
Here are some of the main factors contributing to higher safety levels in these nations:
Effective law enforcement + crime reduction strategies — Policing, community programs, and sometimes strict enforcement of anti-gang or anti-organized criminal laws help reduce violent crime.
Strong institutions and rule of law — Courts, police, and legal systems that work (at least moderately well) help deter crime and increase citizen trust.
Stable political environments — Less political violence, fewer protests turning violent, lower rates of corruption help safety overall.
Lower levels of inequality / poverty (relatively speaking) — While no country is perfect, those with more robust social safety nets tend to have less of the desperation-driven crime that emerges in places with extreme poverty.
Geographic or demographic factors — Some countries have less dense urban areas, less informal settlement, etc., which can make law enforcement and infrastructure easier to manage.
Important Caveats & Things to Check
Safety is not uniform within any country. Even the safest countries often have areas (cities, neighborhoods) with high crime. Research by region or city is essential.
Perceptions vs. statistics — Sometimes safety indices rely heavily on perception, which can lag or misrepresent the actual risk.
Recent changes — In many cases, safety has improved recently (like El Salvador), so older data may not reflect current conditions.
Human rights / civil liberties trade-offs — Some safety improvements come with aggressive enforcement tactics or states of emergency, which may include controversial legal or human rights implications. So the “safest” might not always mean the “most liberal” environment.
Travel vs. living safety — A country may be safe for travelers in tourist areas but have different risks for residents, especially in less affluent rural or suburban zones.
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