The world can be a wonderful place, but it can also be hostile and unsafe. There are countries where violence and insecurity are very present.

Each year, the Institute for Economics and Peace produces the Global Peace Index which aims to identify the most dangerous and insecure countries in the world, based on 22 indicators : number of internal and external conflicts, political insecurity, terrorist activity, number of homicides per 100,000 inhabitants, etc

What are the most insecure countries in the world?

Among the 162 countries studied by this institution Below we show you the 25 most unsafe states in the world .

25. Mexico

The North American country presents high levels of crime , and this region has become a strategic place for drug trafficking coming to the United States from Latin America. In the last 15 years there have been notable cases of robberies, kidnappings and homicides in the country, and according to data from “El Sistema Nacional de Seguridad Pública” (The National Public Security System), a total of 20,189 people were murdered in 2016.

24. Ethiopia

Ethiopia presents high levels of criminal and political violence that has resulted in numerous injuries and deaths . Theft of occupied vehicles, pickpocketing and other minor crimes are common in this country. Street violence is common and kidnappings of foreigners have sometimes been reported.

23. Côte d’Ivoire

Ivory Coast has suffered two civil wars that started in 2002 and 2010 . The Second Civil War of this country turned into a large-scale military conflict between forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo, President of the Ivory Coast since 2000 and supporters of the internationally recognized president Alassane Ouattara. International organisations have reported numerous cases of human rights violations by both sides.

22. Ukraine

Ukraine has experienced a series of conflicts in recent years, since February 2014, especially in the south of the country . The protests in Donetsk and Lugansk have turned into an armed separatist insurgency that leads the Ukrainian government to launch a military counteroffensive against the insurgents. These conflicts have caused thousands of casualties and have put the country on the list of the 25 most insecure countries in the world.

21. Chad

Chad is considered one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in the world ; and many of the inhabitants of this country live in extreme poverty. Its political instability has brought violence to the streets and has led to numerous coup attempts. This country lives immersed in criminality and corruption.

20. Egypt

Egypt has also lived through troubled times in recent years, especially in 2012 , against then president Mohamed Morsi. The political demonstrations have resulted in violent clashes with dozens of dead and hundreds of wounded. In addition, there is continuous Christian persecution and discrimination on multiple levels in this country.

19. India

India is a country that lives immersed in the challenges of poverty , corruption, malnutrition, inadequate public health and terrorism. Crime is also a major problem, as crimes against women, domestic violence, drug and arms trafficking are a reality.

18. Guinea-Bissau

This country in West Africa has been suffering from political instability for decades , specifically since its independence in 1974. Poverty in Guinea-Bissau is considerable, and the country also suffers from a high crime rate. Murders and human trafficking are among the most common criminal acts.

17. Lebanon

The warlike conflicts in Syria have also affected Lebanon . Sunni Muslims in Lebanon mostly support the rebels in Syria, while the Shiites in this country have largely supported Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Assassinations, riots and kidnappings of foreign citizens throughout Lebanon are a common occurrence.

16. Yemen

Yemen has suffered 11 civil wars and social unrest . The country lives immersed in poverty, unemployment, corruption . The government and its security forces have been responsible for torture, inhumane treatment and extrajudicial killings. Freedom of expression, the press and religion are restricted, homosexuality is illegal, punishable by death.

15. Zimbabwe

The African continent lives in continuous conflict, as shown by many countries that include Zimbabwe . The country’s economy is seriously damaged, which has repercussions on social dilemmas. Firearms disputes and violence are the order of the day.

14. Israel

Israel suffers a great deal of conflict largely because of its situation with respect to Palestine . Being in a conflict zone in the Middle East, armed disputes are commonplace. The struggle between Israelis and Palestinians that began in the mid-twentieth century and the Holy Land lives in continuous tension, especially in the Gaza Strip.

13. Colombia

Inequality is a constant in Colombia, where, according to the United Nations Human Development Index , the richest 10% of the country’s population earns four times more than the poorest 40% . The Andean country is considered one of the most dangerous in Latin America, although other rankings consider Honduras as a more insecure territory than Colombia.

12. Nigeria

Nigeria suffers both economically and socially, with continuous conflicts and human rights violations . Its government is known for corruption, where public officials take advantage of their position to line their pockets. Rape and discrimination on the basis of sex are commonplace.

11. Russia

Russia has a high crime rate . It is a country known for its mafia groups, extortion, drug trafficking, hitmen, kidnapping and money laundering. According to the UN, the Russian Federation is one of the leading countries in homicides by the United Nations.

10. North Korea

North Korea frequently appears in the media for living a situation of dictatorship in the hands of Kim Jong-un . Amnesty International has on many occasions denounced the restrictions on freedom and human rights suffered by the inhabitants of this country. Arbitrary detention, torture and other ill-treatment leading to death and execution are not uncommon in this Asian country.

9. Pakistan

Pakistan is considered one of the countries with a high number of terrorists . In fact, the area of Afghanistan-Pakistan, in terms of terrorist acts, is only surpassed by Syria-Iraq. Moreover, political instability, overpopulation, poverty, illiteracy or corruption make this country one of the most insecure on the planet.

8. Democratic Republic of the Congo

A country that is politically unstable, but like many African states, is rich in natural resources . In the Democratic Republic of the Congo corruption and exploitation and resource extraction and exploitation reign. Warlike conflicts have been frequent in the last two decades, killing more than 5.4 million individuals and causing diseases such as malaria.

7. Central African Republic

Another African country on the list that, especially after gaining independence from France in the 1960s, has lived through different dictatorships. The first democratic multi-party elections were held in 1993, when Ange-Félix Patassé was elected president. Serious clashes took place between Muslim and Christian factions.

6. Sudan

Warlike conflicts have marked the history of Sudan, especially its civil wars and the war in the Darfur region . Human rights are ignored in this country, and both ethnic cleansing and slavery take place. Its Sudanese legal system is governed by Islamic law.

5. Somalia

Somalia is experiencing an internal conflict that began in 1991 and is still active today . The war has caused hundreds of thousands of casualties so far, and rebel troops, especially Islamists, continue to be added.

4. Iraq

Iraq is one of the countries most devastated by the war , which officially ended in 2011; however, conflicts are still present, and on a political level instability is a reality. The self-styled Islamic state continues to expand in this region, where major warlike conflicts such as those in Mosul or Tikrit have taken place.

3. South Sudan

South Sudan is a country different from Sudan, which in 2011 became independent . This region has suffered from internal conflicts for decades, and ethnic violence is the norm. The result has been numerous victims.

2. Afghanistan

The conflicts in Afghanistan, which began in 2001, are known worldwide . NATO and the allied countries have participated in the civil war in this country, which emerged after the attacks of 9/11. Victims can be counted in the tens of thousands.

1. Syria

Syria is the most dangerous country in the world today due to the armed conflict it is experiencing and which began in 2011 , with protests to the government of Bashar al-Assad, whose forces responded with violent repression. It is estimated that more than 200,000 civilians have already been killed.