South Africa has slipped dramatically down the latest Global Safety Index.
The country has fallen 50 places to sit in the bottom quarter of the global rankings at number 129, with a score of 44.7 out of 100.
This is according to the 2025 report from CS Global Partners, which assesses 166 countries and paints a bleak picture of the nation’s growing safety and governance challenges.
South Africa slips to all-time low on safety index
The index, compiled using data from the Global Peace Index and the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators, evaluates nations based on safety, political stability, and rule of law.
According to the report, South Africa’s steep decline reflects escalating crime rates, corruption concerns, and uncertainty in its political environment.
The data highlighted that perceptions of safety vary across regions. Within conflict zones such as Ukraine, security is defined by immediate physical protection.
In countries like South Africa and Nigeria, it centres on everyday personal safety, particularly the risk of violent crime.
In the United States, gun violence and social unrest dominate safety concerns, while European nations tend to prioritise consistent law enforcement and privacy protections.
The best and the worst
At the top of the 2025 rankings are Iceland, Switzerland, Denmark, Ireland, as well as Liechtenstein and Austria, countries long recognised for their stability, low corruption, and robust governance.
Meanwhile, some global powerhouses, including the United States and the United Arab Emirates, found themselves in the middle third of the list, performing below expectations.
South Africa’s position, however, stands out for how far it has fallen. The country now ranks below Equador (126), Gabon (127) and Honduras (128).
At the bottom of the list and the most unsafe countries were Venezuela (166), Yemen (165) and Afghanistan (164).
