Solo Female Travel Safety: What the Real Indices Say
Two real, independently-published indices exist in this space — and they don't rank the same countries at the top. Rather than blend them into one invented composite, here's each on its own terms.
Last updated: July 2026
The Georgetown WPS Index — real, but not travel-specific
The Georgetown Institute's Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Index is a real, rigorously-documented annual index covering 181 countries, built with the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). It measures women's inclusion, justice, and security broadly — not solo-travel safety specifically. Its current (2025/26) top 5: Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland. The bottom of the index is dominated by countries in active conflict: Afghanistan, Yemen, the Central African Republic, Syria, and Sudan.
The Asher Fergusson index — the real travel-specific one
A genuinely solo-travel-focused index does exist: the Asher Fergusson Solo Female Travel Safety Index, which ranks the 50 most-visited countries using real institutional data (Gallup World Poll, Equal Measures 2030, UN Women, the Georgetown WPS Index itself, WEF, UNDP, and OECD data). Its current top 10 safest: Spain, Singapore, Ireland, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Portugal, Croatia, Canada, and the UK. Its bottom 10 (requiring the most caution): South Africa, Brazil, Russia, Mexico, Iran, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Morocco, India, and Thailand. Notably, this real index's top 10 doesn't include Iceland, Japan, or New Zealand — countries that often top invented "solo female travel" rankings elsewhere online.
Asher Fergusson Solo Female Travel Safety Index — top and bottom 10
| Rank tier | Countries |
|---|---|
| Safest 10 | Spain, Singapore, Ireland, Austria, Switzerland, Norway, Portugal, Croatia, Canada, UK |
| Most caution advised, bottom 10 | South Africa, Brazil, Russia, Mexico, Iran, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Morocco, India, Thailand |
Asher Fergusson Solo Female Travel Safety Index, current edition — ranks 50 most-visited countries using Gallup World Poll, Equal Measures 2030, UN Women, Georgetown WPS Index, WEF, UNDP, and OECD data.
Why these two real indices disagree
The WPS Index measures structural conditions for women generally (legal rights, education, political representation, physical security) across all 181 UN member states. The Asher Fergusson index is built specifically around solo-travel risk factors (harassment reports, transit safety, traveler-specific incident data) across the 50 most-visited countries. A country can score well on one and moderately on the other — which is exactly why blending them into a single invented "Safety Score" hides more than it reveals. If you're planning a specific trip, the Asher Fergusson index is the more directly relevant of the two.
Practical safety tools for solo female travel
Regardless of which index you check, the same practical steps apply everywhere: research your specific destination and neighborhood, share your itinerary with a trusted contact, keep digital and physical copies of your documents, and know how you'll be found if something goes wrong. A daily check-in app like ImAlive automatically alerts your emergency contact if you miss a check-in — it works across time zones, requires no local phone number, and provides passive protection: your contact is alerted by your silence, not by an action you have to take during a crisis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the safest country for solo female travel?
It depends which real index you check. The travel-specific Asher Fergusson index currently ranks Spain, Singapore, and Ireland at the top of its safest-10 list. The broader Georgetown WPS Index (which measures structural conditions, not travel safety specifically) currently ranks Denmark, Iceland, and Norway at the top. They're not the same list because they measure different things.
Is it safe for a woman to travel alone in Asia?
Singapore ranks in the real Asher Fergusson index's safest-10. Beyond that, safety varies significantly by country and region within Asia — research your specific destination rather than relying on a single regional generalization.
How can solo female travelers stay safe?
Research your destination and specific neighborhood, share your itinerary with a trusted contact, use a daily check-in app like ImAlive, stay in well-reviewed accommodations, use registered transport, and keep copies of your documents in multiple locations.
What should I do if I feel unsafe while traveling alone as a woman?
Trust your instincts — leave the situation and go to a public, well-lit area. Contact your accommodation or local authorities. Reach out to your emergency contact, or trigger an immediate alert if you use ImAlive. Many countries have tourist police with English-speaking officers.
Why do different 'safest country' rankings disagree with each other?
Because they measure different things. The Georgetown WPS Index scores structural conditions for women broadly (legal rights, education, security) across all 181 UN member states. The Asher Fergusson index is built specifically around solo-travel risk factors across the 50 most-visited countries. Neither is wrong — they're just answering different questions, which is why a single blended "safety score" from an uncited source should be treated with skepticism.
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