SerpApi.Org
Moving abroad alone is a different kind of decision than moving with a partner or a family. There's no built-in support system waiting at the airport, no second income to fall back on, and no one to double-check the paperwork with you at midnight.
Safety, in that context, stops being an abstract statistic and becomes something closer to a daily companion, shaping everything from which neighborhood you rent in to whether you feel comfortable walking home after dark. For anyone weighing a solo relocation next year, the good news is that a handful of countries consistently rise to the top of global safety data while also offering the practical infrastructure solo movers actually need: reliable healthcare, low crime, political stability, and communities that don't feel closed off to newcomers.
Below are five destinations that keep showing up at the front of the pack.
Iceland
Iceland has held the number one spot on the Global Peace Index for close to two decades, and the 2026 edition confirms that streak has now stretched to Iceland has held the top spot for 19 consecutive years. That kind of consistency is rare in a world where rankings tend to shuffle year to year, and it says something about how deeply safety is embedded in daily Icelandic life rather than being a temporary policy win.
Much of that reputation comes down to scale and social trust. Iceland's population sits at just a few hundred thousand people, and its very low level of crime is typically attributed to its high standard of living, small population, strong social attitudes against crime, and a high level of trust in its well-trained police force, which does not carry firearms. For a solo expat, that combination of low crime and a tightly knit society means fewer worries about personal safety, though the tradeoff is a smaller, more insular expat scene and a genuinely high cost of living.
New Zealand
New Zealand has climbed rather than slipped in recent rankings, and the 2026 Global Peace Index has it moving into second place this year, helped by low violent crime, transparent governance, and its distance from many global conflict zones. For a solo mover, that geographic distance from major flashpoints translates into a kind of background calm that's hard to quantify but easy to notice once you're actually living there.
Beyond the peace rankings, New Zealand's everyday safety infrastructure holds up well too. For expats moving to New Zealand, safety is a primary concern, and the country has a remarkably low crime rate compared to global averages, with people known for their friendly and accepting nature and communities that tend to have a real sense of solidarity. Housing availability is a genuine limitation, since demand often outpaces supply in the bigger cities, but for solo expats prioritizing a slower pace and strong community ties, that tradeoff tends to be worth it.
Switzerland
Switzerland's safety credentials rest heavily on political neutrality and institutional stability rather than any single flashy statistic. The 2026 Global Peace Index places it firmly among the world's most peaceful nations, noting that it remains a regular in the top three, thanks to its long-standing neutrality, political stability and high quality of life. That neutrality isn't just symbolic. It shapes how predictable daily governance feels, which matters enormously to someone building a new life without a local support network.
Crime data backs this up on a more granular level too. Political stability is a hallmark of Switzerland, taking a neutral stance in global affairs that, combined with a well-established and decentralised government, creates a highly predictable and secure environment where expats rarely face political unrest. The catch, as with Iceland, is cost. Switzerland ranks among the most expensive countries on earth for daily living, so solo expats need a solid income plan before making the leap.
Ireland
Ireland has become something of a go-to answer for solo expats from English-speaking countries, and the safety data supports why. The 2026 Global Peace Index shows it continuing to hold its place in the global top five, with low levels of militarisation and a stable political environment. For a solo mover without a partner to share the adjustment period, the shared language and cultural familiarity often ease the transition faster than in non-English-speaking destinations.
Day-to-day, the sense of safety tends to hold up outside the capital as well as within it. In the countryside, life moves at a slower pace, with little traffic, quiet evenings, and a general lack of stress, where walking alone through a village or along a clifftop trail feels safe and normal, making Ireland a satisfying choice especially for solo travelers. It's worth noting that petty crime such as theft has ticked upward in recent years in urban pockets, so solo expats settling in Dublin specifically should still take the usual precautions any newcomer to a capital city would.
Portugal
Portugal rounds out this list as the destination that blends safety with genuine affordability, a combination that's increasingly rare among the world's top-ranked safe countries. The 2026 Global Peace Index notes that Portugal has steadily climbed the rankings over the past decade and continues to attract travellers with its peaceful environment and low crime levels. That upward trajectory has been consistent rather than a one-year fluke, which matters when you're planning a move that isn't easily reversed.
One development solo expats should factor into their planning is a recent shift in Portugal's naturalization rules. As of mid-2026, Portugal extended naturalisation from 5 to 10 years for most pathways in May 2026. That doesn't change how safe daily life feels on the ground, but it does mean solo movers hoping for a faster path to citizenship will need to adjust their long-term timeline, even as the country's low crime rate and lower cost of living compared to Switzerland or Iceland continue to make it an accessible entry point for a solo relocation. For solo expats weighing where to land next year, no single ranking tells the whole story. Safety indices measure crime, conflict, and governance, but they don't capture how quickly you'll make friends, how easy it is to navigate a new healthcare system alone, or how a country's cost of living lines up with your savings. Iceland, New Zealand, Switzerland, Ireland, and Portugal each solve that puzzle differently, trading off affordability, community, and pace of life in ways that make the right choice less about which country ranks highest and more about which tradeoffs fit an individual life best.
