12 Safest Countries for Women
These are 10 of the leading countries when it comes to safety, promotion of gender equality, upholding of community safety and all-round women’s inclusion in society.
1. Denmark
- Women, Peace and Security ranking: 1 (0.932)
- Global Peace Index ranking: 8
- Global Gender Gap Index ranking: 14
Denmark is one of the safest countries for women, pairing low violent-crime levels with excellent city services and reliable, late-running public transport. In Copenhagen and Aarhus, well-lit streets, frequent metros and buses, and an embedded “biking culture” make it easy to get around confidently at night.
Around 78% of women say they feel safe walking alone after dark, and recent intimate partner violence is reported by about 3% of women, among the lowest rates globally. Strong, well-funded shelters and a high access-to-justice score translate into real follow-through if you need support.
For study, work, or relocation, day-to-day life feels organized and predictable, exactly what many solo female travelers and expats look for.
2. Switzerland
- Women, Peace and Security ranking: 2 (0.928)
- Global Peace Index ranking: 5
- Global Gender Gap Index ranking: 17
Clean, compact cities, punctual transit, and a culture of rule-following help explain why about 85% of women report feeling safe at night in Switzerland.
Recent intimate partner violence sits at ~2%, one of the lowest figures measured, and the country also reports zero recorded political-violence events targeting women in the latest dataset. Hiking towns and lake cities like Zurich, Bern, and Lausanne feel welcoming and manageable, and multilingual services make settling in straightforward.
If you’re shortlisting the safest countries for women in 2025, Switzerland’s combination of community safety, effective policing, and quick legal redress is hard to beat.
3. Sweden
- Women, Peace and Security ranking: 3 (0.926)
- Global Peace Index ranking: 35
- Global Gender Gap Index ranking: 6
Sweden blends big-city culture with a strong everyday safety net. Stockholm and Gothenburg are designed for solo walkers and riders, with frequent trams, metros, and night buses.
Women’s employment is high (~80%), which tends to correlate with financial independence and help-seeking confidence. Perceptions of safety have improved over time, with about 74% of women now feeling safe walking alone at night, and maternal mortality is low (~4.5 per 100,000).
Sweden also boasts strong access-to-justice scores, which matters if you ever need to escalate a complaint. For many, Sweden’s balance of modern city life and practical protections is exactly what “countries safest for women” should look like.
4. Iceland
- Women, Peace and Security ranking: 4 (tie) (0.924)
- Global Peace Index ranking: 1
- Global Gender Gap Index ranking: 1
Iceland’s small-city feel, even in the capital of Reykjavik, means short commutes, familiar neighborhoods, and quick help if needed.
Women’s perception of safety sits around 74%, and the country records zero political-violence events targeting women in the latest period.
Health outcomes are stellar, with maternal mortality around 2.7 per 100,000, among the best globally. While night buses run less frequently than on the continent, taxis are regulated and easy to book.
For solo travelers and new arrivals, the mix of approachable scale, responsive services, and a community that shows up for gender-equality issues creates a reassuring environment.
5. Finland
- Women, Peace and Security ranking: 4 (tie) (0.924)
- Global Peace Index ranking: 10
- Global Gender Gap Index ranking: 2
Finland’s calm cities and seamless transport make getting home late straightforward, especially in Helsinki, Tampere, and Oulu.
Notably, the share of women who feel safe walking at night has climbed from ~69% to ~78% over recent years, a meaningful upward trend.
Recent intimate partner violence is reported at ~8%, higher than some Nordic neighbors but still far below global averages. The country counters this with clear reporting pathways and easy-to-find support lines.
Maternal mortality is very low (~8.3 per 100,000), signaling strong health access. Add in high smartphone and bank-account access, and day-to-day independence is as smooth as it gets.
6. Luxembourg
- Women, Peace and Security ranking: 4 (tie) (0.924)
- Global Peace Index ranking: (not listed in GPI tables)
- Global Gender Gap Index ranking: 50
This compact hub feels tailor-made for hassle-free living: short distances, multilingual services, and a polished public-transport system that’s free nationwide.
Women report very high night-time safety (about 88%), and recent intimate partner violence is relatively low (~4%). With strong cross-border policing cooperation and quick emergency response, daily security feels tangible.
For professionals (including single women moving for finance or EU roles), the combination of legal protections and community safety puts Luxembourg consistently in conversations about the safest country for women in the world, especially if you want a small, high-functioning country to make your base.
7. Norway
- Women, Peace and Security ranking: 7 (0.92)
- Global Peace Index ranking: 32
- Global Gender Gap Index ranking: 3
Norway combines stunning fjords and Arctic beauty with a high standard of living. Norway’s cities are bright, orderly, and built around public trust and that shows up in the numbers.
Roughly 86% of women feel safe walking alone at night, and maternal mortality is exceptionally low (~1.7 per 100,000).
On the security side, Norway records zero proximity to conflict and no political-violence events targeting women in the latest data.
For outdoorsy travelers or families, that day-to-day sense of calm extends from Oslo’s tram stops to trailheads a short train ride away. If your shortlist of the best countries to live in for women includes social stability and top-tier health access, Norway is a standout choice.
8. Austria
- Women, Peace and Security ranking: 8 (0.911)
- Global Peace Index ranking: 4
- Global Gender Gap Index ranking: 56
Vienna, the capital of Austria, is regularly ranked among the world’s most livable capitals for good reason, namely spotless transit, late-running lines, and neighborhoods that feel safe on foot.
About 82% of women report feeling safe walking at night, and Austria shows zero political-violence events targeting women in the most recent data.
Justice measures are strong, with solid access-to-justice performance and low maternal mortality (~5.2 per 100,000).
For students and culture lovers, this is a place where evening concerts and last trains home can be routine without second-guessing the route you take or looking over your shoulder.
9. The Netherlands
- Women, Peace and Security ranking: 9 (0.908)
- Global Peace Index ranking: 14
- Global Gender Gap Index ranking: 43
The Netherlands pairs an extensive cycling infrastructure with dense rail and metro networks, so getting from dinner to bed rarely requires a long walk.
Safety perceptions are good by international standards, about 72% of women say they feel safe walking alone at night, and recent intimate partner violence is ~5%.
Dutch cities also invest heavily in lighting, CCTV at major stations, and bystander-friendly design (sightlines, open platforms), which helps women feel in control of their commute.
As a base for work or grad study, the blend of independence, transport choice, and everyday civility is a major draw for female expats.
10. New Zealand
- Women, Peace and Security ranking: 10 (0.904)
- Global Peace Index ranking: 3
- Global Gender Gap Index ranking: 5
New Zealand regularly features in shortlists for its rights structure and community-level supports.
One noteworthy nuance about this country is the share of women who feel safe walking alone at night being about 42%, lower than its European peers. This means planning night-time travel (rideshares, well-lit routes) in bigger cities is a less anxiety-inducing activity.
Offsetting that is the fact that women hold about half of parliamentary seats, and recent intimate partner violence prevalence is ~4% in the latest index cycle.
For relocators, the combo of responsive institutions, outdoor-oriented cities, and English-language services keeps New Zealand a practical and welcoming option.
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11. Portugal
- Women, Peace and Security ranking: 19 (0.877)
- Global Peace Index ranking: 7
- Global Gender Gap Index ranking: 34
Portugal combines calm, walkable cores with dependable transit, so getting home late in Lisbon or Porto generally feels straightforward. Survey data show about 72% of women feel safe walking alone at night, and recent monitoring records zero political-violence events targeting women, signals that show day-to-day risk is low in most neighborhoods.
Support systems are visible and practical. Recent intimate partner violence is ~4%, and women benefit from strong legal protections plus solid access to justice in practice; maternal mortality is also low (~11.8 per 100,000), reflecting reliable healthcare access. If you’re weighing the safest countries for women for a longer stay, Portugal’s mix of community safety, services, and friendly city design stands out.
Relocation pathways are varied: the Portugal Digital Nomad Visa for remote workers, the Portugal D7 Visa for passive-income residents, and the Portugal Golden Visa, now focused on fund investment, research, culture, or job creation rather than real estate. These routes offer clear residence options, with up-to-date rules and processes outlined by GCS and recent policy updates.
12. Ireland
- Women, Peace and Security ranking: 13 (0.892)
- Global Peace Index ranking: 2
- Global Gender Gap Index ranking: 9
Ireland’s compact cities, such as Dublin, Cork, Galway, are well lit and easy to navigate, with frequent buses and rail making evening connections feel predictable. About 78% of women report feeling safe walking alone at night, and Ireland records zero political-violence events targeting women and zero proximity to conflict in the latest cycle, aligning with the country’s reputation for everyday stability.
On the personal safety front, recent intimate partner violence is ~3%, and women have high access to justice when they need recourse. Health indicators reinforce that sense of reliability – maternal mortality is ~5 per 100,000, and financial inclusion is near-universal (~99.5% of women report an account), making routine life smooth for newcomers.
If you’re building something new, the Ireland Start-up Entrepreneur Programme (STEP) provides a residency path for innovative founders, with a minimum €50,000 funding requirement and a rolling application process; GCS’s overview and the official immigration portal outline eligibility and documentation in detail. It’s a practical route for women founders who want an English-speaking base with strong legal protections and a supportive startup ecosystem.
