As solo female travel continues to grow in popularity, with about 32 million American women traveling alone each year, safety remains a top concern.
Unfortunately, many countries present significant dangers for female travelers due to issues ranging from sexual violence to legal discrimination.
A recent study by journalists Asher and Lyric Fergusson analyzed the 50 most popular tourist destinations and ranked them based on their safety for women, taking into account factors like street safety, homicide rates, sexual violence, and gender inequality.
Here is another 2024 study of the world’s most safest and dangerous places for tourists.
Here are the findings on the most dangerous countries for women traveling solo.
South Africa tops the list as the most dangerous country for solo female travelers. Only 25% of women in South Africa reported feeling safe walking alone at night—the lowest of any country studied. The country also has the highest rate of intentional homicide against women and is notorious for its high rates of sexual violence. Disturbingly, over 40% of South African women are expected to face rape in their lifetime. As a result, South Africa was the only country to receive an “F” grade on the Women’s Danger Index.
Brazil ranks as the second-most dangerous country for women. The country has the third-highest rate of intentional homicide of women and ranks sixth for intimate partner violence, affecting 36.9% of women. Additionally, only 28% of Brazilian women feel safe walking alone at night.
Russia is ranked third, largely due to having the second-highest rate of intentional homicides against women. It is also among the top ten countries for laws that limit women’s ability to participate in society and the economy, reflecting widespread gender-based legal discrimination.
Mexico is the fourth most dangerous country for female travelers. Approximately 33% of women in Mexico feel safe walking alone at night, and the country ranks fourth in terms of intentional homicides of women. Moreover, about 16% of women experience non-partner sexual violence, placing Mexico third in this category.
Iran ranks fifth due to its significant gender gap, which measures disparities between men and women in economic participation, educational attainment, health, and political empowerment. Iran also ranks third for legal discrimination against women, further highlighting the challenges faced by female travelers.
The Dominican Republic ranks sixth on the list, with only 33% of women feeling safe walking alone at night and the fifth-highest rate of intentional homicides against women. The country also ranks high in terms of gender inequality, which includes health, empowerment, and labor market participation.
Egypt is the seventh-most dangerous country for female travelers. The country has a high global gender gap and ranks poorly in terms of gender inequality. Only 47% of Egyptian women reported feeling safe walking alone at night. Moreover, the country ranks sixth for laws that restrict women’s participation in society and the economy.
Morocco ranks eighth, with 45% of women experiencing physical or sexual violence from their intimate partners—the highest rate on the list. Approximately 32% of Moroccan women believe that violence against women is justified under certain circumstances.
India ranks ninth and is among the top five countries for intimate partner violence, affecting 37.2% of women. Shockingly, 45% of Indian women surveyed agreed that it is acceptable for a husband or partner to beat their wife under certain circumstances, reflecting deep-seated societal norms around gender-based violence.
Thailand rounds out the top ten, with the second-highest rate of intimate partner violence affecting 44% of women. Moreover, about 61% of women in Thailand believe that violence against women is justified in some situations, the highest percentage among all countries analyzed.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the safest countries for women include Spain, Singapore, Ireland, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Portugal, Croatia, Canada, and Poland.
These countries have higher levels of gender equality, stronger legal protections, and better social attitudes towards women’s rights and safety, making them ideal destinations for solo female travelers.
