10 Most Dangerous Countries in the World

Top 10 Most Dangerous Countries in the World

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Most Dangerous Countries in the World.

For this list, we’ll be looking at conflict zones around the world. The violence, social upheaval, and corruption in these countries make them especially dangerous to many who live there or visit.

There are many hazardous hotspots across the globe today. Are there others that should have made our list? Please let us know in the comments below.

#10: Central African Republic

The Central African Republic has been in a state of unrest for decades, and every possible source of conflict is at play. There have been numerous attempts at military coups between 2009 and 2019. Despite being rich in natural resources, the country is plagued by corruption and inequality. Ethnic and sectarian tensions have ramped up violence, especially between the anti-Balaka militias in the north and Seleka groups in the central regions. Food insecurity and internal displacement run rampant, with millions seeking refuge from the conflicts. Both external and internal interventions by non-profits, state actors, and UN peacekeepers have done little to quell the violence. Over half the country still requires humanitarian aid just to survive.

#9: Somalia

Somalia has been in a state of endless civil war since the end of the Reagan Administration. Things were so bad, the government collapsed entirely in 1991 and Somalia was designated a failed state by the international community. There was a brief glimmer of hope at the end of the 1990s, but it was soon snuffed out. After 9/11, jihadist groups like Al-Shabaab and local warlords found a foothold in Somalia. The government has often responded with violent crackdowns and kangaroo courts without due process. Repeated international interventions by African Union and Ethiopian troops haven’t done much to shore up the humanitarian crisis. Millions still require aid. Somalia has also been ground zero for climate change, suffering years of drought and famine.

#8: Russia

Russia’s internal situation is getting grim. Despite propaganda from the Interior Ministry, independent analysts are seeing a spike in violent crime and homicides. Poverty and inequality are on the rise, a result of both international sanctions and internal corruption. The war in Ukraine has exacerbated political tensions, with crackdowns on dissent leading to protests and thousands of arrests. Thousands more have fled the country in fear for their lives. 17,000 Russian refugees arrived at the U.S. southern border seeking asylum in the first half of 2023 alone. Many countries - including the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia - have travel advisories for Russia. Foreign citizens are at high risk of wrongful detention and imprisonment for use as political leverage.

#7: South Sudan

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, but has been in constant conflict ever since. Hundreds of thousands have died in civil war and violence, and millions have been displaced. The country is armed to the teeth, but has a decrepit infrastructure and few social services. Healthcare and education are sporadic at best, and carjackings, shootings, robberies, and kidnappings are common. Foreigners are often targeted. Climate change induced flooding has left millions on the brink of starvation. The situation is exacerbated by a flood of refugees fleeing violence and civil war in Sudan - also a very dangerous country, especially amid the conflict that began in April 2023. The thousands fleeing genocide, bombings, and looting are coming in faster than aid organizations can help them.

#6: Iraq

Even after the Iraq War, the Middle Eastern country is still a hotbed of terrorism, crime, and corruption. According to the U.S. State Department, foreigners are at high risk of kidnapping and terrorist attack. The fragile power-sharing agreement between Sunni, Shia, and Kurdish forces has led to political upheaval over recent years. Uprisings and sectarian violence have filtered through much of the country. Protesters have been killed, injured, and disappeared in government crackdowns. Women, religious minorities, and LGBTQ+ groups have been targets for violence and governmental sanction. As the Tigris and Euphrates rivers continue to slowly dry up due to climate change, violence and displacement will likely only worsen.

#5: Democratic Republic of Congo

The Democratic Republic of Congo is a textbook example of the horrific legacy of European colonialism. Belgium’s colonial military committed widespread atrocities, ravaging the country; after independence it became a dictatorship under Mobutu, until his overthrow in 1997. Since then, the DRC has been in an almost unending state of war, both internally and with its neighbors. The government is incredibly unstable, leading to the proliferation of independent armies, especially in the eastern regions. Poverty, inequality, and poor infrastructure have led to surges in gang and terrorist recruitment. Violence is widespread, as is hunger and starvation. Over 300,000 refugees fled their homes in February 2023 alone. Epidemics like COVID-19 and ebola are very hard to combat. Rebel groups deny access to humanitarian aid and frequently attack aid workers.

#4: Ukraine

In February of 2022, Ukraine was transformed from a nascent democracy throwing off the shackles of its corrupt past to a country embroiled in war. Unsatisfied with taking Crimea in 2014, Russia launched a full-scale invasion. To the world's surprise, Ukraine pushed back the Russian offensive. Since then, the countries have been bogged down in vicious ground warfare in the east and south. The devastation has been profound. At least six Ukrainian cities were completely destroyed. This includes Mariupol, a city slightly larger in population than Miami. Reports of horrific human rights abuses are widespread. Even relatively safe centers like Kyiv are subject to missile attacks. Civilians have been intentionally targeted, and nowhere in the country is truly safe while the war rages on.

#3: Syria

Syria has been in a complex, multi-factional civil war since 2011. President Assad began the war with a campaign of violent suppression against protests calling for his removal. Over a half million people have died in the conflict, including a number killed in illegal government chemical weapon attacks. Millions have been displaced, and almost seven million fled the country altogether. The Syrian refugee crisis is unprecedented in its scale and effect on the European economy and politics. Syria’s infrastructure has crumbled thanks to the war. In many parts of the country, healthcare and education are nonexistent. Proxy fights between Syrian, Russian, Turkish, and ISIS-backed groups have led to many attacks on civilians. As of 2023, the violence rages on with no end in sight.

#2: Yemen

In 2014, Shia Houthi militias launched a rebellion against the Sunni government of Yemen. The fighting continues into 2023, a conflict that is as much a proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia as it is a civil war. A Saudi-led coalition of nine Sunni Arab nations have been conducting air-strikes in Yemen since 2015. The US has sold them tens of billions of dollars in weapons, many of which have been used on civilian targets. Hundreds of thousands have died in the fighting, and hundreds of thousands more have died from an ongoing famine. Millions have been displaced from their homes. According to the United Nations Population Fund, 80% of the population requires aid to meet basic food needs. Peace talks between factions began in early 2023, but the humanitarian crisis remains dire.

#1: Afghanistan

Afghanistan has been considered by many to be the most dangerous country on Earth since 2019, even before the Taliban returned to power. Two decades of post-9/11 warfare have left Afghanistan ravaged and severely under-developed. According to the U.N., 97% of Afghans now live in poverty. In the wake of the U.S. withdrawal, strict Taliban rule has made circumstances worse. Under sanctions, the country’s economy has utterly collapsed. Violence remains widespread, with terrorist cells still able to find safe harbor. The imposition of Sharia law has led to public executions and the curtailing of human rights for women and girls. Flash flooding, severe drought, and earthquakes have only worsened this humanitarian disaster.