The Riskiest Solo Travel Destinations in 2026

Written By Steven BennaAuthor

Last Updated: February 10, 2026February 11, 2026 — 10 min read

It goes without saying that travel risks vary by country, but due to the nature of solo travel, these risks can be compounded as lone travelers often lack local safety nets or support systems. 

To help solo travelers better understand how risks vary by destination, we analyzed data from a range of safety, health, and infrastructure standpoints to create a single 10-point solo travel risk index.

Factors analyzed include: ease of accessing reliable medical care, safety, and peace indices, safety sentiment among locals, internet access, and more. 

This analysis serves to highlight where solo travelers could potentially face increased challenges, and serves as a guide to plan accordingly by securing the proper travel insurance coverage.

Key Takeaways:

• Our analysis named Venezuela, Peru, and Gabon as the highest-risk destinations for solo travelers based on the 10-point risk index.
• San Marino, Andorra, and Singapore rank as the lowest-risk destinations in our analysis.
• South American countries account for half of the 10 highest-risk destinations identified.
• European countries feature prominently among the lowest-risk destinations.
• Crime is the primary concern among American travelers when considering higher-risk destinations (40%), followed by political unrest (37.2%) and health-related risks (12.2%).
• Risk is not limited to traditionally high-risk destinations. Even popular countries that are often perceived as “safe” can rank higher for solo travel risk when factors such as healthcare access, infrastructure, and trip disruption are considered alongside safety.
• For travelers concerned about these risks, finding the best travel insurance can provide financial protection against issues such as medical emergencies, trip disruptions, and certain safety-related incidents.
• For the full data set, with all 113 countries, please contact media@squaremouth.com

The 10 Most Dangerous Countries for Solo Travelers

The ten countries that made the list of the most risky destinations for solo travelers include:

1. Venezuela – Risk Index of 9.74
2. Peru – Risk Index of 8.87
3. Gabon – Risk Index of 8.51
4. Colombia – Risk Index of 8.38
5. Bolivia – Risk Index of 8.37
6. Jamaica – Risk Index of 8.27
7. Guyana – Risk Index of 8.21
8. Ecuador – Risk Index of 8.12
9. Trinidad and Tobago – Risk Index of 8.11
10. South Africa – Risk Index of 8.04

Here is a look at which countries made the top 3 and why.

1. Venezuela | Risk Index of 9.74/10

Venezuela records the highest overall risk index in this analysis. Fewer than 10% of residents report feeling safe walking alone at night, and concerns around violent crime are widespread. 

These safety challenges, combined with limited healthcare access and infrastructure constraints, contribute to elevated risk levels for solo travelers.

For the latest official guidance, see the U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory for Venezuela.

2. Peru | Risk Index of 8.87/19

Our index ranks Peru as the second-highest risk destination for solo travelers. 

Survey data revealed that fewer than 25% of residents feel safe walking alone at night, and nearly 60% express concern about being attacked. Lower mobile internet speeds can also make contacting family or accessing online assistance more difficult if needed.

These factors, combined with higher reported crime levels in busy urban and tourist areas, tally up to pose a host of potential challenges for solo travelers, particularly those unfamiliar with local conditions.

Refer to the U.S. Government’s official Peru Travel Advisory for more information.

3. Gabon | Risk Index of 8.51/10

Gabon ranks third overall for solo travel risk. Access to healthcare is a key factor in Gabon receiving its score. 

Gabon had the lowest healthcare index score in the study (31.5/100) with an average of 2 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Access to medical facilities can be even more limited outside major urban areas. This statistic alone makes having travel insurance extremely important when visiting Gabon.

While Gabon has a relatively low WorldRiskIndex score, indicating lower exposure to natural disasters compared to some higher-ranked countries, healthcare limitations and safety concerns outweigh this, ultimately contributing to its elevated overall risk index. 

Refer to the U.S. Government’s official Gabon Travel Advisory for more information.

For the full data set, including risk indices for all 113 countries, please contact media@squaremouth.com

The 10 Safest Countries for Solo Travelers

The ten countries that made the list of the lower risk destinations for solo travelers include:

1. San Marino – Risk Index of 0.78/10
2. Andorra – Risk Index of 1.33/10
3. Singapore – Risk Index of 1.56/10
4. Austria – Risk Index of 1.74/10
5. Czech Republic – Risk Index of 1.77/10
6. Qatar – Risk Index of 1.84/10
7. Estonia – Risk Index of 1.84/10
8. Brunei – Risk Index of 1.85/10
9. Denmark – Risk Index of 1.90/10
10. Slovenia – Risk Index of 1.92/10

Here is a closer look at which made the 3 safest countries for solo travelers and why they made the list.

1. San Marino | Risk Index of 0.78/10

San Marino in Italy ranks as the safest destination for solo travelers. San Marino had the lowest overall risk index in our analysis, ranking 113th on the list of riskiest destinations.  

Nearly 90% of residents surveyed report feeling safe walking alone at night.

High perceptions of personal safety by the local population, strong healthcare performance, and low environmental risks contribute to its strong ranking. 

Refer to the U.S. Government’s official Italy Travel Advisory for more information.

2. Andorra | Risk Index of 1.33/10

Andorra ranks as the second safest destination for solo travelers due to its low overall risk index, coming in at 112th on the list of the riskiest destinations. 

It records high safety index scores and low concern around personal safety among locals, with fewer than 14% of residents worried about being attacked. 

These factors contribute to a low-risk profile for solo travelers.

Refer to the U.S. Government’s official Andorra Travel Advisory for more information.

3. Singapore | Risk Index of 1.56/10

Singapore ranks as the third-safest destination for solo travelers and comes in at 111th on the list of riskiest destinations for lone travelers. 

It combines strong safety perceptions among locals, offers high-quality healthcare, and has reliable infrastructure. 

Over 75% of residents report feeling safe walking alone at night, contributing to its low risk index.

Refer to the U.S. Government’s official Singapore Travel Advisory for more information.

For the full data set, including risk indices for all 113 countries, please contact media@squaremouth.com

How Squaremouth’s Most Popular Destinations Rank for Solo Travel Risk

Squaremouth data shows where travelers most frequently visit as it relates to travel insurance purchases.

Below is a list of the top ten most frequented destinations among Squaremouth travelers. We cross-referenced our risk index data with these frequently visited destinations to get an understanding of where these countries fall in terms of risk for solo travelers. 

The results showed that none of these destinations made the list of the safest or the riskiest countries for solo travelers, but all fell somewhere in between. 

When looking at the overall rank of each country, the majority rank as moderately risky, ranking within the thirtieth to fiftieth percentile of all countries evaluated. These include popular countries such as Italy, the UK, France, Canada, and the United States. 

Interestingly, Mexico, which ranks as the 16th riskiest country for solo travelers on our index, is the most popular international destination among Squaremouth travelers. 

1. Mexico | Risk Index of 7.82/10

Mexico ranks among the higher-risk destinations within Squaremouth’s most frequently insured locations, placing 16th overall. 

Its score is driven primarily by safety-related indicators, including higher reported concerns around crime and personal security, which have a greater influence than healthcare capacity or infrastructure. Safety conditions in Mexico can vary significantly by region, a factor reflected in government-issued travel advisories.

As a vacation-heavy destination, travel to Mexico often involves prepaid flights and accommodation. Combined with elevated safety-related risk factors, this helps explain why demand for travel insurance remains high, particularly for coverage related to medical treatment, trip interruption, and emergency assistance.

Refer to the U.S. Government’s official Mexico Travel Advisory for more information.

2. Bahamas | Risk Index of 7.56 / 10

The Bahamas ranks 19th overall, placing it among the higher-risk destinations within Squaremouth’s most popular locations.

Its overall score reflects a combination of safety-related concerns and healthcare capacity constraints, particularly outside major population centres. As an island destination, access to medical facilities and emergency services can be more limited, which contributes to its position in the index.

Travel to the Bahamas is largely leisure-driven and often includes significant prepaid costs. These factors help explain why demand for travel insurance remains high, especially for coverage related to medical care, evacuation, and trip disruption.

Refer to the U.S. Government’s official Bahamas Travel Advisory for more information.

3. United States | Risk Index of 6.02/10

The United States ranks nearer the middle of the index at 37th, reflecting a mix of strengths and risk factors. While healthcare capacity is relatively strong, higher levels of concern around personal safety contribute to its overall score, alongside regional variation in infrastructure and access to services.

As Squaremouth’s most frequently insured destination, this reflects a high volume of domestic travel by U.S. residents. Insurance demand is influenced by factors such as trip costs, coverage for flight delays or cancellations, and access to defined benefits when traveling within the country.

For the full data set, including risk indices for all 113 countries, please contact media@squaremouth.com

Traveler Sentiment on Solo Travel to Riskier Destinations

Recently, we surveyed nearly 3,000 American travelers to examine attitudes toward solo travel in higher-risk destinations. Our findings highlight how safety concerns influence travel decisions and preparation.

• 90% of respondents check U.S. government travel guidance before traveling to riskier destinations.
• 40% of respondents cited crime as their primary concern when considering whether to visit higher-risk destinations, followed closely by 37.2% who feel most concerned about political unrest.
• Travel to higher-risk destinations is most often linked to specific reasons, such as visiting friends or family (33.2%) or travelling for work (24.8%), suggesting people may feel more comfortable visiting riskier locations when they have an existing reason or local connection.
• Only 36% of travelers say they would purchase a comprehensive travel insurance plan before visiting a higher-risk destination, meaning nearly 64% are predisposed to risk traveling without coverage.

Although crime is a leading concern when considering higher-risk destinations, many solo travelers may still be traveling without insurance, leaving them exposed in the event of theft, personal violence, or other emergency situations. 

For U.S. travelers, where domestic health insurance typically does not apply overseas, travel insurance can provide access to emergency medical treatment, support following incidents of crime, and 24/7 assistance while traveling alone.

How to protect yourself against the dangers of solo travel in riskier destinations

Chrissy Valdez, Senior Director of Operations at Squaremouth, shares tips on how solo travelers can stay protected in high-risk destinations:

“If you plan to travel alone to higher-risk destinations, it’s important to stay informed about the potential risks so you can prepare yourself for a safe and successful trip.

Travel insurance is especially important to consider if you are a solo traveler who lacks a local support network at your destination, as it is one of the easiest ways to provide yourself with protection while you are away.

This can include protection for emergency medical treatments, theft of personal items, identity theft, emergency evacuations, and 24/7 emergency support services.

Apart from assessing the specific risks at your travel destination, it’s important to ensure that you purchase travel insurance that can protect you from these threats.

Before the trip, review the terms and conditions of potential travel insurance plans to ensure they align with your travel itinerary, planned activities, the potential risks of your destination, and your unique needs.

Lastly, keeping up to date with local news and official government travel advice is key for solo travel. Official advisories can be updated at any time based on new information and changing circumstances, so we recommend checking before and during your trip.

Most travel insurance policies have specific clauses and exclusions related to coverage in regions with active travel advisories at level 3 and above. If this advisory is in place before you purchase insurance, then certain claims related to risks cited in the advisory may not be covered. If an advisory is upgraded while you’re already abroad,  contact your insurer immediately to understand how your coverage may be impacted.”

Methodology & Data

We are Squaremouth, a leading U.S travel insurance comparison site, helping travelers find the best coverage for every trip. Our platform enables customers to filter plans based on their specific coverage needs, including trip cancellation, travel delay, and medical emergencies, with transparent side-by-side comparisons.

Safety issues are a significant concern for the large solo-travelling community, and we wanted to uncover which destinations around the world are the most dangerous for solo travelers.

We discovered the most dangerous destinations using the following methodology and sources:

We analyzed each country considered to be of “very high” or “high” human development according to data from the Human Development Report’s Human Development Index. 

Each country was judged on the factors below, and each factor was given a normalized score out of 10, which was then averaged. Any countries that were missing data for more than 2 factors were excluded.

1. The percentage of people who worry about being attacked: https://www.numbeo.com/crime/rankings_by_country.jsp  
2. The percentage of people who feel safe walking alone at night: https://www.numbeo.com/crime/rankings_by_country.jsp  
3. Safety Index score/100: https://www.numbeo.com/crime/rankings_by_country.jsp   
4. Global Peace Index score (higher = less peaceful): https://www.visionofhumanity.org/maps/ 
5. Health Care Index score /100: https://www.numbeo.com/health-care/rankings_by_country.jsp   
6. Access to reliable medical care by the number of hospital beds (per 1,000 people): https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.MED.BEDS.ZS 
7. WorldRiskIndex score (higher = more risk): https://weltrisikobericht.de/worldriskreport/  
8. Median mobile internet download speed: https://www.speedtest.net/global-index 

Additional Sources:

1.  Crime in Venezuela via Numbeo
2.  Hospital beds per 1,000 people via World Bank Group
3. Crime in Andorra via Numbeo

Full data available on request at media@squaremouth.com