Portugal is a constant near the top of international rankings for safety and peacefulness, making it a standout destination for tourists and investors, plus retirees, individuals and families relocating from abroad.
Global Peace Index Leadership (GPI)
This is produced annually by the Institute for Economics & Peace and viewed as one of the world’s most authoritative monitors for national safety and security.
It assesses 163 countries worldwide on indicators such as crime, conflict, militarisation, and societal safety. The 2024 and 2025 GPI ranked Portugal 7th safest in the world and 5th in Europe, behind only Iceland, Ireland, Austria and Switzerland.
Such high and consistent safety and peace rankings means Portugal outperforms many larger and seemingly more affluent EU nations nearby, including Germany (20th), Spain (25th), Italy (33rd) and France (74th) in overall peace and safety metrics.
Murders are rare in Portugal – well under one per 100,000 people – and on a par with the safest countries globally.
Violent crime remains significantly below the European average, assisted by stringent firearms laws, and the overall crime trend is declining year on year according to Portuguese government statistics.
Overall crime decreased by 4.6% in 2024 and most offences reported are non-violent, such as property crime and petty theft. Even these tend to be in tourist hotspots such as Lisbon and Porto.
Social stability and community safety
Crime figures aren't everything when it comes to safety and security, other societal factors also play a major role:
Political stability – Portugal enjoys long-term political stability, without frequent civil unrest or major political violence. This contributes heavily to high peace and security scores.
Strong community support – high levels of perceived safety. Many residents report feeling safe walking alone at night, which reinforces Portugal’s reputation beyond raw crime stats.
Inclusive environment – Portugal is widely regarded as welcoming and inclusive to diverse groups, including solo travellers, LGBTQ+ visitors, families, and expats.
Effective emergency infrastructure – a Portugal uses a unified emergency number (112) and has widely accessible services across major cities.
Tourism and travel safety recognition
Portugal isn’t just safe statistically, but also recognised by travel insurers as being one of the top 15 safest destinations worldwide, with the key factors being:
- low crime rates
- traveller confidence
- accessible healthcare
- visible public safety infrastructure.
Paul Stannard, chairman and founder of Portugal Pathways said: Portugal stands out globally and among its neighbours for a consistently strong safety profile across the board. Its combination of low crime, low violence, and high peace rankings makes it one of the most secure places in Western Europe to live, work, travel or to invest and do business.”
To find out more about life and investment in Portugal, contact Portugal Pathways today.
About Portugal Pathways
Portugal Pathways has supported hundreds of Golden Visa residency-by-investment applications and provides expert guidance through its professional supply chain network on luxury property, wealth management, and tax optimisation, including post-NHR tax regime planning, as well as private healthcare, IFICI tax incentive applications, money transfers and bespoke relocation solutions to enhance life and investments in Portugal.
Disclaimer: The information on the Portugal Pathways website and in email communications is for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, tax, or financial advice. You should consult and check with a qualified professional advisor before relying on any information provided on this website or in email communications. As it relates to investments in Golden Visas or other wealth management solutions offered by regulated and professional advisors, it is important to note that past performance is no guarantee of future returns. Private equities can be highly illiquid and come with risk and should always be under professional independent advice.
