Top 8 safest countries in Africa
Stereotypes often misrepresent Africa as a continent full of conflict and instability. However, there are many safe destinations across the continent. In fact, countries like Ghana, Mauritius, and Tanzania rank among the top 8 safest countries in Africa. These nations boast lower crime rates, higher Human Development Index scores, and peaceful populations.
To provide a fuller picture, Masatu Tours’ editorial team studied recent global research, including government data and residents’ views on personal safety. The result is a ranking of Africa’s safest countries, offering insights beyond just tourist zones
How we selected the safest countries in Africa
For each analytical study, we chose 7–10 prominent nations and awarded them one point. This list includes the countries that received the highest scores. Our study was based on the rankings shown below:
The Institute for Economics & Peace established the Global Peace Index (GPI). It evaluates 163 nations, covering 99.7% of the world’s population. The index considers 23 factors, including social safety, the scale of foreign and local conflicts, and the level of militarisation.
The Global Terrorism Index (GTI) measures attacks, deaths, and economic impacts. We hadn’t planned to use this index, but one country’s data stood out. In 2023, Burkina Faso topped the list for the first time in 13 years. The West African nation recorded nearly 2,000 terrorism-related deaths. That number accounts for about one-fifth of all such deaths worldwide.
KOF Globalization Index. The Swiss Economic Institute developed it in 2002 to assess the economic, social, and political implications of globalization. It takes into account the volume of international trade, cultural exchanges, and political collaboration, which represent a state’s level of integration into the global community.
Numbeo’s Crime Index collects reliable data on quality of life and socioeconomic aspects in cities and countries worldwide. Surveys analyze the general crime situation, covering both petty and violent crimes. They also assess safety during different times of the day.
Global safety report. The American Institute of Public Opinion, founded in 1935 by sociologist George Gallup, compiles information on how safe people feel and how they perceive the effectiveness of law enforcement.
The United Nations Development Programme devised the Human Development Index (HDI), which assesses a country’s average achievements in three main areas of human development: life expectancy, education, and per capita income. The index measures the overall well-being and quality of life in 193 nations.
1. Mauritius
Capital: Port Louis
Population: 1.3 million
This island nation in Southeast Africa, Mauritius, is considered one of the Top 8 safest countries in Africa. It consistently ranks high in safety, outperforming the vast majority of countries globally, including Spain, Norway, Italy, the United Kingdom, Sweden, the United States, and many more. According to the Global Peace Index, Mauritius maintains excellent peace and stability. Additionally, it falls in the green zone on the Terrorism Index, with a score of 0.000—indicating the lowest danger level and reaffirming its position among the Top 8 safest countries in Africa.
It is ranked 83rd out of 146 in terms of crime rate. You are less likely to become a victim of a crime here than in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Sweden, or Belgium. Meanwhile, according to the Global Safety Report, residents in all of the aforementioned nations believe they are safer than Mauritians. As one would assume, a similar process may be observed in human growth. However, Mauritius’ indicator remains greater than that of China, North Macedonia, Moldova, and India. In terms of globalization, the country leads Turkey, Russia, and even Hong Kong.
What country is the safest in Africa?
According to the 2024 Global Peace Index, Mauritius is Africa’s safest country. However, this varies depending on the measurements or rankings used. Safety rankings are influenced by factors such as petty crime, political stability, and economic situations.
According to the Institute for Economics and Peace, Mauritius has held top ranks for the previous 17 years and is the only Sub-Saharan African country that has not been involved in any internal or foreign crises in the last five years.
2. Top 8 safest countries in Africa: Ghana
Capital: Accra
Population: 34.5 million
Ghana’s coastline borders the Atlantic Ocean, while it has land borders with Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, and the famously problematic Burkina Faso. Regardless of its location, Ghana is noted for its independent judiciary, multiparty democracy, and freedom of expression, including a free press.
In terms of the Global Peace Index, it outperforms Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, China, and even Jamaica. In the Terrorism Index, it ranks among the countries with a zero. The crime rate is lower than in Canada, Greece, and Australia.
According to the Global Safety Report and the Human Development Index, Ghana trails behind all “first-world” countries while outperforming the bulk of African countries, including famous tourist destinations such as Kenya, Ethiopia, and Madagascar (often romanticized in Hollywood).
Which country in Africa has the least crime?
According to the Numbeo Crime Index 2025, Ghana, Rwanda, and Tunisia have the lowest crime rates in Africa. However, crime is difficult to quantify, and rankings frequently rely on how crime is classified and reported. Different sources or indexes may use different data gathering techniques, time spans, and survey procedures, resulting in variances in their conclusions.
3. Zambia
Capital: Lusaka
Population: 21.1 million
Zambia, located in the continent’s south, has been politically stable since achieving independence from Britain in 1964. Over the last decade, it has had rapid economic growth in comparison to many other African countries, which is always reflected in internal security levels.
Zambia, like Ghana, falls behind several prominent Western and European countries on the Global Peace Index but remains in the “top tier.” Notably, it surpasses major tourist destinations such as Thailand, Nepal, China, India, and even France.
Zambia has the world’s second-lowest terrorist danger, and its crime rate is lower than that of Greece, Ireland, Italy, Australia, the United Kingdom, and other rich countries. In other ranks, Zambia outperforms its continental neighbors.
4. Namibia
Capital: Windhoek
Population: 2.8 million
Welcome to Southern Africa. Namibia borders South Africa, Botswana, Angola, and Zambia. While its shared border with Zambia is only 247 kilometers (153 miles), the two countries have a lot in common.
Namibia, for example, ranks just marginally behind Zambia on both the peace index and the terrorism index, outperforming the majority of countries globally. According to the Global Safety Report, it outperforms Kenya and most of its neighbors. The UN paints a similar picture: the country’s human development is higher than that of Zambia, Nepal, Rwanda, and half of all African, Middle Eastern, and Asian countries.
According to Gallup analysts, the majority of nations where inhabitants report feeling dangerous on the streets year after year are in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The only exceptions to this rule are Namibia and Malawi.
The 2024 presidential election is a reliable predictor of political and social stability. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is the first woman to serve as head of state in history.
5. Morocco
Capital: Rabat
Population: 39.2 million
The Kingdom of Morocco is considered the continent’s commercial powerhouse. It shares a border with Europe, notably Spain, via the Strait of Gibraltar. According to Global Finance, Morocco stands out from the rest of Africa due to its stable political climate, robust financial markets, and infrastructure.
Morocco ranks higher on the Peace Index than Nepal, France, China, and over a hundred other countries. Terrorism has little impact, and the crime rate is lower than in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Sweden, the United States, and other nations that are typically used as standards. The Global Safety Report provides a similar conclusion. According to UN estimates, Morocco is one of the top countries in Africa and the Eastern region.
6. Tunisia
Capital: Tunis
Population: 12.3 million
Tunisia, one of the Top 8 safest countries in Africa, benefits from easy access to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea and is routinely ranked as one of the continent’s most developed nations. As part of the safest African destinations, Tunisia ranks 73rd on the Global Peace Index—higher than Thailand, Nepal, France, China, Cyprus, and nearly half the world. While its terrorist threat rating is not zero, Tunisia remains safer than countries like Greece, the United States, Turkey, Kenya, or India, solidifying its place among Africa’s safest travel options.
With comparatively low crime rates, Tunisia is safer than Canada, Ireland, Italy, Australia, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Belgium. Although Tunisia’s human development ranking isn’t very high, it still outperforms several major tourist destinations such as Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, India, and more, making it one of the Top 8 safest countries in Africa.
7. Top 8 safest countries in Africa: Egypt
Capital: Cairo
Population: 112.7 million
Egypt, located between the Middle East, Europe, and the rest of Africa, aspires to be one of the world’s leading international commerce and investment hubs. As previously, the country’s economy is based on oil and mineral exports. Recently, the government has undertaken a number of megaprojects. These include widening the Suez Canal, creating smart cities, and constructing new roads and transit infrastructure.
The Institute for Economics and Peace ranks Egypt 105th out of 163 in terms of peacefulness (still ahead of India, the United States, Turkey, and Ethiopia) and 20th in terms of terrorist danger. However, scholars ascribe this finding mostly to Middle Eastern tensions rather than domestic difficulties or conflicts.
In other ways, Egypt is consistent with the safest African countries already stated. The crime rate is lower than in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Sweden, the United States, Belgium, and France. Egypt also ranks higher on the Global Safety Report than the Netherlands, Taiwan, Austria, Spain, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the Czech Republic, South Korea, and many other countries. According to the UN Human Development Index, it outperforms Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Venezuela, Kenya, Ghana, Zambia, Morocco, Namibia, and India.
8. Top 8 safest countries in Africa: Tanzania
Capital: Dodoma (official capital), Dar es Salaam (economic and cultural center)
Population: 68.6 million
Tanzania is often regarded as one of Africa’s most politically stable, safest, and intriguing countries. For the past two decades, the Republic’s economy has grown steadily, fuelled by international commerce, foreign investment and tourism. The government promotes tourism, recognising the country’s clear advantages over other African locations. Tanzania is well-known across the globe for its enormous animal reserves, including Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater, home to Africa’s tallest peak, as well as its rich cultural legacy.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over the world visit Tanzania for some of the best safari experiences on the planet, to climb Africa’s tallest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 meters/19,341 feet), to enjoy the white-sand beaches of Zanzibar, to stroll through colonial-era Stone Town, and to relax on picturesque tropical islands. It is also where you may observe the Great Migration of wildlife, see tree-climbing lions, and explore Lake Tanganyika, the world’s second-deepest lake after Lake Baikal. Tanzania is becoming increasingly popular among tourists, offering everything from fantastic African safari excursions to personalised packages that feature the greatest things the nation has to offer.
With genuine plans to promote its tourist industry, the government devotes enormous resources to safety. Tanzania jumped 11 spots on the Global Peace Index in 2023, beating Thailand, Nepal, France, China, and almost 100 other countries. Its terrorism danger rating is lower than that of the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, Greece, and even the United States. In reality, the Maldives, France, and Argentina have a much higher crime rate.
While Tanzania is well-known for its natural beauty and tourist potential, there is still opportunity for growth in terms of human development. Tanzania is ranked 167th out of 193 countries in the most current UN rankings, ahead of just a few sites that are rarely included in travel operator brochures.
