In short
By official measures, much of Europe is very safe: Slovenia ranks 4th and Portugal 7th in the 2026 Global Peace Index, Switzerland 5th in 2025, and countries such as Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, Greece and Luxembourg carry the US State Department's Level 1 advisory ("exercise normal precautions"). Italy is at Level 2 for terrorism risk, and Sweden has low overall violence but high gang-related shootings. Pickpocketing in tourist areas is the most common problem Americans meet.
Safety in Europe: key facts
Last verified 1 October 2026| Safety | US travel advisory Level 1; 4th in the world in the Global Peace Index 2026# Source: US State Dept - Slovenia International Travel Information · Vision of Humanity - GPI 2026 top 10 most peaceful countries |
|---|---|
| Safety | 5th in the Global Peace Index 2025# Source: 10 most peaceful countries in the world in 2025 (Vision of Humanity / IEP) |
| Safety | US travel advisory Level 1; 7th in the 2026 Global Peace Index# Source: Portugal Travel Advisory: US State Dept · Portugal retains spot as world's 7th safest country: AICEP |
| Safety | 25th in the Global Peace Index 2025# Source: El Cronista – Países más seguros … en qué puesto está España (GPI 2025) |
| Safety | US travel advisory Level 1 — the lowest# Source: Poland Travel Advisory / Country info |
| Safety | US travel advisory Level 2 (exercise increased caution, terrorism); pickpocketing in tourist areas# Source: US Department of State: Italy travel advisory |
| Safety | Low overall violence (84 homicides nationwide in 2025), but gang-related shootings are high for Western Europe — 158 in 2025# Source: Brå – Konstaterade fall av dödligt våld 2025 · Polisen – Skjutningar per polisregion 2025 |
By Country
Official Safety Ratings, Country by Country
| Country | Rating |
|---|---|
| Slovenia | US travel advisory Level 1; 4th in the world in the Global Peace Index 2026 |
| Switzerland | 5th in the Global Peace Index 2025 |
| Portugal | US travel advisory Level 1; 7th in the 2026 Global Peace Index |
| Poland | US travel advisory Level 1 — the lowest |
| Lithuania | US travel advisory Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) |
| Slovakia | US travel advisory Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) |
| Luxembourg | US travel advisory Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) |
| Hungary | US travel advisory Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) |
| Greece | US travel advisory Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) |
| Romania | US travel advisory Level 1 (exercise normal precautions); Bucharest has the highest earthquake risk in the country |
| Spain | 25th in the Global Peace Index 2025 |
| Italy | US travel advisory Level 2 (exercise increased caution, terrorism); pickpocketing in tourist areas |
| Sweden | Low overall violence (84 homicides nationwide in 2025), but gang-related shootings are high for Western Europe — 158 in 2025 |
Ratings from the Global Peace Index and the US State Department, as recorded in each country's key-facts register. Other countries are covered on their own pages.
Daily Life
What Safety Looks Like Day to Day
Petty crime is the main risk
Pickpocketing in tourist areas and on public transport is the problem Americans meet most — Italy's advisory mentions it explicitly.
Ratings are national averages
Neighbourhoods differ. Read the city guides — for example Stockholm or Bucharest — before choosing where to live.
Natural hazards count too
Bucharest, for example, has Romania's highest earthquake risk.
Stability is about institutions as well
Look at how predictable the permit system is — our country guides record recent rule changes.
Before You Choose
Four Questions to Ask Yourself
What does "safe" mean for your family?
Street crime, school environment, healthcare access and political stability are different things.
Will you live in a big city or a smaller town?
Capital-city figures rarely match life in a quiet town.
How stable are the residence rules?
Countries that change permits often add uncertainty to a long-term plan.
Can you get help in English?
Emergency services, doctors and schools work very differently in each country.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the safest country in Europe for Americans?
By the Global Peace Index, Slovenia (4th in 2026), Switzerland (5th in 2025) and Portugal (7th in 2026) rank among the world's most peaceful countries.
Is Europe safer than the US?
Most countries in our table carry the State Department's lowest advisory (Level 1). Italy is at Level 2 for terrorism risk. Check the advisory for the specific country before you move.
Is Sweden safe?
Overall violence is low (84 homicides nationwide in 2025), but gang-related shootings are high for Western Europe — 158 in 2025.
Across Europe
Compare all 29 countries by topic
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