The 10 Safest Countries, Ranked by Perception

Recent months have been plagued by tragic massacres in countries across the globe.

In this age of uncertainty and fear, many are led to wonder: Where in the world can we expect to be safe?

According to data from the 2016 Best Countries rankings — a characterization of 60 countries based on a survey of more than 16,000 people from four regions — Denmark is perceived to be the safest country in the world.

[READ: 10 Most Corrupt Countries, Ranked By Perception]

Sweden and Canada are also perceived to be particularly safe, clocking in at second and third, respectively.

Data from the Global Peace Index published by the Institute for Economics and Peace had similar findings, ranking Denmark and Sweden in the top 10 safest countries.

The United States comes in 20th on the Best Countries rankings of safe countries, perhaps because the U.S. is beset by high rates of gun deaths, as well as mass incarceration and high military spending.

Here are the safest countries in the world, ranked by perception:

Country Name	Best Countries Overall Rank
1. Denmark	10
2. Sweden	5
3. Canada	2
4. New Zealand	11
5. Netherlands	9
6. Austria	12
7. Australia	6
8. Luxembourg	14
9. Germany	1
10. Ireland	18