World’s Most Dangerous Cities 2025

We all like to think our homes are safe places to store our belongings and valuables – but how safe are they?

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 26% of break-ins between June 2022 and June 2023 within Australia resulted in personal items such as jewellery and clothing being stolen, with a further 17% resulting in wallets, purses and money being taken.¹

As experts in comparing home and contents insurance, we wanted to do a global deep dive to see which cities are perceived as the most dangerous by their inhabitants, which locations feel like they’re becoming increasingly unsafe the fastest, and which are seen as the safest.

To do this, we used Numbeo’s crime index data across the last six-and-a-half years, which gives each city a “crime rating” score out of 100, with 100 being the most unsafe based on survey participants’ perceptions of crime levels in their city. Survey participants are given questions covering general perception of crime levels, perceived safety, concerns about specific crimes, property crimes and violent crimes. For the purpose of the rankings, only the highest-ranking city of each country was counted.

Here’s what we found.

Most Dangerous Cities Across the World

1. Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

The most dangerous city on the list is South Africa’s Pietermaritzburg, with a 2025 crime index score of 82.0. The South African city’s crime rating peaked mid-way through 2019 at a high of 82.9 and subsequently dropped to 79.7 in 2021, however since then the rating has risen back up to its current rating of 82.0.

Since the start of 2019, Pietermaritzburg’s crime index score has fallen by 0.4.

2. Caracas, Venezuela

Next on our list is the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, with a 2025 crime index score of 81.5. At its peak, Caracas reached a crime index score of 85.3 mid-way through 2019, topping the index for crime score within that period, just ahead of Pietermaritzburg with its index high of 82.9.

The Venezuelan capital is trending toward a lower crime score, with its most recent data point, 81.5, being the lowest recorded within the index.

Since the start of 2019, Caracas’ crime index score has dropped by 1.6.

3. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Third on our list of crime cities is Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, with a 2025 crime index score of 81.2. The Papua New Guinean capital has placed consistently in the low 80’s across each year recorded, peaking with a score of 83.6 in 2020. Since then, the crime rating has plateaued once again around 81.

Since the start of 2019, Port Moresby’s crime index score has increased by 1.2.

4. San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Landing fourth on the list from Honduras is San Pedro Sula, with a 2025 crime index score of 79.7. The Central American city is the first of our index with a score below 80. Since 2019, San Pedro Sula has seen a stable crime index score, slowly trending downward from its peak in 2019 at 82.5

Since the start of 2019, San Pedro Sula’s crime index score has lowered by 2.8.

5. Memphis, USA

Fifth in our top crime cities is the birthplace of rock’n’roll: Memphis, USA. Memphis had a 2025 crime index score of 77.4. The American city has seen crime index scores consistently floating around the mid-70s, with the city reaching its highest crime score in 2025. Conversely, the lowest crime index score recorded for Memphis was mid-way through 2021 at 73.5.

Since the start of 2020, Memphis’ crime index score has risen by 2.6.

Most Dangerous Cities Across the World

To view the full dataset, click here.

Biggest Increase in City Crime Rating

1. Minsk, Belarus

Landing at the top of the index for cities with the most drastic increase in crime index rating over five years was Minsk, Belarus. Starting in 2019, the Belarusian capital sat at a relatively low crime index rating of 23.0. Since then, the European city’s crime rating has more than doubled, rising by 28.0 to reach its current rating of 51.0.

Minsk’s crime index score peaked in 2021 at 61.8 – a massive leap from 2020’s mid-year rating of 24.4. Since this leap, Minsk’s crime index rating has been slowly falling but is yet to fall back below a rating of 50.0.

2. Osaka, Japan

Maybe surprisingly, the second spot in our rising crime rating cities is Osaka, Japan. Starting in 2019, the city boasted the fourth-lowest crime index score of 15.1.

Osaka then saw its crime city score more than double in just over two years, reaching 31.3 halfway through 2021. Since then, the Japanese city’s crime city score has plateaued around the 30.0 mark, well below the average crime index rating within the study.

Osaka’s crime index score peaked mid-way through 2023 with a score of 33.3.

3. Thessaloniki, Greece

The Greek city of Thessaloniki has the third highest increase in crime index rating since 2019. Starting in 2019, Thessaloniki’s crime index rating was sitting at a safer-than-average 34.9, rising to its current rating of 52.5 – an increase of 17.6. Contrary to Minsk, Thessaloniki’s rise in crime rating has been a gradual one, trending toward a year-on-year increase with a slight drop throughout 2023.

Thessaloniki’s crime index score peaked mid-way through 2022 at 54.8.

4. Kelowna, Canada

Jumping across the globe, Kelowna, Canada, takes fourth place for the rise in crime index rating. Starting in 2019, the Canadian city sat a little above the index average with a crime index rating of 48.2. Since then, Kelowna’s crime rating has gradually risen, before reaching its peak and current rating of 62.1 – an increase of 13.9.

5. San Jose, USA

Last on our list for crime index increases is San Jose, USA. Starting in 2019, San Jose was sitting at a crime index rating of 42.0. Since then, the city has seen a gradual year-on-year crime rating increase – jumping from a rating of 42.5 in 2020 to 45.1 in mid-way through the same year and eventually climbing to its current rating of 55.5, which is also the city’s peak rating thus far – representing a total increase of crime index rating of 13.5.

Cities with the Biggest Increase in Crime Rating

World’s Safest Cities

1. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Placing as the safest city on our list, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, sits far ahead of any other city in the index with a 2025 crime index rating of 11.6. The capital received its lowest crime index rating mid-way through 2019, where it scored 10.6 – the lowest score of any city recorded. Since then, Abu Dhabi has hovered around a crime rating of 12.0.

Since 2019, Abu Dhabi’s crime index rating has increased by 0.6.

2. Doha, Qatar

Next up on our list of the world’s safest cities is Qatar’s capital, Doha, with a 2025 crime index rating of 15.9. Doha received its lowest crime index rating in 2020, at 11.5. Since then, though, the city’s crime rating saw a gradual increase to 16.1 at the end of 2024 – which is also its highest rating recorded.

Since 2019, Doha’s crime index rating has increased by 3.7.

3. Taipei, Taiwan

The third safest city on our index is Taipei, Taiwan, with a 2025 crime index rating of 16.2. The Taiwanese capital saw its lowest crime index rating in 2021, with a low of 13.4. Despite this low, Taipei has hovered consistently around the 15 mark, with frequent drops behind into the 14s. Taipei’s crime index rating peaked in the latter half of 2024 with a crime index rating of 16.3.

Since 2019, Taipei’s crime index rating has increased by 0.3.

4. Muscat, Oman

Landing as fourth on our safest cities list is Oman’s capital, Muscat, with a 2025 crime index rating of 19.1. Contrary to the top three cities in this list, Muscat’s current crime index rating is its lowest rating yet, with the 2019 rating, 24.5, being its highest. Since 2019, Muscat’s crime rating has been consistently dropping to reach its current placements.

Since 2019, Muscat’s crime index rating has fallen by 5.4.

5. The Hague, Netherlands

Last on our list of safest cities is The Hague, Netherlands with a 2025 crime index rating of 20.5. A similar case to the prior placement, Muscat, The Hague has seen consistently falling crime index ratings since 2019, hitting an all-time low rating of 20.2 in the latter half of 2024. Since then, the city has seen a slight increase in rating of 0.3 as it enters into 2025.

Since 2019, The Hague’s crime index rating has dropped by 8.9.

Safest Cities Across the World

Biggest Decreases in City Crime Rating

1. Shenzhen, China

Landing on top for cities with the biggest five-year decrease in crime rating is Shenzhen, China. Shenzhen started 2019 with an above-average crime index rating of 56.5, which dropped by 23.5 over the year to its 2020 rating of 33.0. Since then, Shenzhen’s crime index rating has been steadily decreasing toward its current 2025 rating of 25.7 – a drop in the crime index rating of 30.8, starting in 2019.

Shenzhen is currently sitting on its lowest rating recorded and while its year-on-year rating decrease is slowing down, the city is set to continue the trend.

2. Almaty, Kazakhstan

The Kazakhstani capital started 2019 with a high crime index rating of 72.8 – the 15^th highest rating of all cities in 2019. Since then, Almaty’s rating has been steadily decreasing, with a big drop in rating during 2023 of 9.3, before settling into a rating of 53.7 at the start of 2024 and maintaining that throughout the year. From 2019, Almaty’s total crime index rating has declined by 19.5.

Almaty’s crime index rating has seen a further decline into 2025. While the city’s decline in rating has slowed, it seems that the index rating looks to be set for further decreases.

3. San Salvador, El Salvador

Third on our index for crime rating decreases is San Salvador, El Salvador. San Salvador started the index with a high crime index rating of 72.1 in 2019. Since then, the Central American city’s crime index rating hovered around the 72.0 mark until mid-way through 2022, when the city enjoyed a sharp decline from 71.9 to its current rating of 57.2. San Salvador’s overall crime index rating decrease from 2019 to its 2025 ranking was 14.9.

Following the city’s sharp decline starting mid-way through 2022, San Salvador is seen to continue enjoying a declining crime rating.

4. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah lands in the fourth spot for cities with the biggest decrease in crime rating. Jeddah landed in 2019 with a below-average crime rating of 38.0 and has since seen its crime index rating decline steadily until its current rating of 25.7. Jeddah’s overall crime index rating decrease from 2019 to its 2025 ranking was 12.3.

Jeddah’s year-on-year crime rating decrease has shown no signs of slowing down, with a decrease in rating of 0.6 between the latter half of 2024 and 2025.

5. Penang, Malaysia

Rounding off the cities with the largest decrease in crime rating is Penang, Malaysia. Similar to Jeddah, Penang started 2019 with a peak crime index rating below the global average, with a rating of 42.0. Since then, the island city has seen a slow, gradual decrease in its already safer-than-average crime level, with the city reaching its lowest score yet as of mid-year 2024, with a rating of 30.3 – signalling a crime index rating decrease starting 2019 through to 2024 of 11.7.

While Penang’s crime index rating decrease was consistent, the city’s crime index rating landed on the same score between both 2025 and the latter half of 2024, potentially signalling a halt in future decreases.

Cities with the Biggest Decrease in Crime Rating