The safest country in Africa in 2026: the ranking, and the island it leaves out

According to the 2026 Global Peace Index, the safest country in Africa is Mauritius, ranked 18th in the world. It is followed by Equatorial Guinea (38th) and Botswana (50th), with The Gambia, Madagascar, Namibia, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Ghana completing the African top 10.

That ranking, however, answers a question (how peaceful is a country?) that isn't quite the one a traveller asks. Here's what it really measures, and why some of the calmest destinations in Africa don't appear in it at all.

In this article

• The 2026 Global Peace Index: Africa's top 10
• What this ranking doesn't tell you
• Sao Tome and Principe: the one that never makes the lists
• The calmest African destinations for UK travellers
• And the 10 safest countries in the world?
• How to judge a destination's safety properly
• Frequently asked questions
• A calm destination that isn't on the lists yet

The 2026 Global Peace Index: Africa's top 10

The Global Peace Index is published every year by the Institute for Economics and Peace and assesses 163 countries. Its African top 10 for 2026, with the world ranking in brackets:

1. Mauritius (18th): the best in Africa by a clear margin
2. Equatorial Guinea (38th)
3. Botswana (50th)
4. The Gambia (56th)
5. Madagascar (59th)
6. Namibia (63rd)
7. Morocco (65th)
8. Sierra Leone (74th)
9. Senegal (75th)
10. Ghana (76th)

If you've seen other top 10 lists with Botswana, Namibia or Ghana right behind Mauritius, they are usually based on earlier editions of the index: positions move from year to year, so always check which year a list refers to.

What this ranking doesn't tell you

It's worth reading carefully, because there are three things every traveller should know.

1. It measures peace, not the tourist experience

The index weighs armed conflict, militarisation, defence spending, relations with neighbouring countries, prison population and political stability. A country can score well because it has no wars and still have high urban crime. And vice versa.

2. It doesn't include every country

This is the key point: the index covers 163 states and leaves out the smallest countries in the world for lack of comparable data. That's why you won't find Sao Tome and Principe, Cape Verde, the Comoros or the Seychelles on any of these lists.

Not being in the ranking doesn't mean being less safe. It means being too small for the ranking.

3. National averages hide huge differences

South Africa is the classic example: it scores poorly overall, but a tourist's experience on the Garden Route or in Kruger has nothing to do with that of certain Johannesburg neighbourhoods. A national figure doesn't describe an itinerary.

Sao Tome and Principe: the one that never makes the lists

In our experience on the ground, it is one of the calmest destinations on the whole continent, yet it almost never appears in articles about the safest countries in Africa. Why it's so peaceful:

• It's an archipelago with no land borders. No conflict on the continent reaches it.
• There are no terrorist groups or insurgency. Nothing like the Sahel or northern Nigeria. The UK Foreign Office notes there is no recent history of terrorism in the country.
• A multi-party democracy since 1990, with power changing hands through the ballot box.
• Around 235,000 people on 1,001 km². Everybody knows everybody: the anonymity that makes crime easier simply doesn't exist.
• Violent crime is rare. The FCDO describes the crime rate as generally low; what can happen is opportunistic theft.
• Walking around the capital at night without incident is normal.

The real risks there aren't about crime: they're malaria, limited medical care and the roads in the south. All of which you manage with the right antimalarials, good travel insurance and by not driving at night. We cover this in detail in is Sao Tome and Principe safe?

The calmest African destinations for UK travellers

Combining the index, crime data and practical travel experience:

• Mauritius: the safest according to the index; excellent tourist infrastructure, but expensive and fairly crowded.
• Sao Tome and Principe: no conflict, no terrorism, no crowds; limited infrastructure and basic healthcare.
• Cape Verde: very safe and easy to reach from the UK; more touristy every year.
• Botswana: one of the most stable countries on the continent; top-class safaris and high prices.
• Namibia: very safe outside Windhoek; involves driving long distances.
• Senegal: stable and accessible; more hassle from vendors in tourist areas.
• Ghana: remarkable hospitality and good political stability.
• Rwanda: one of the lowest crime rates on the continent and very orderly.

Weighing up where to go? See our pick of the best countries in Africa to visit.

And the 10 safest countries in the world?

Iceland has topped the Global Peace Index every year since 2008, and the top positions are usually completed by countries such as Ireland, New Zealand, Austria, Switzerland, Singapore, Portugal, Denmark, Slovenia and Japan, with some movement from year to year.

Mauritius, in 18th place, slips in among European countries and is the only African nation in the world's top 20.

How to judge a destination's safety properly

• Check the FCDO's foreign travel advice on gov.uk. It is set region by region within each country, not just for whole countries, and also tells you whether your travel insurance is likely to be affected.
• Separate political risk from everyday crime. They are different things and you prevent them differently.
• Look at the specific area, not the country. That's the difference between a useless figure and a useful one.
• Assess the health risk. In Africa, malaria and the distance to a hospital matter more than crime.
• Travelling with local people reduces real risk far more than any statistic.

Frequently asked questions

What is the safest country in Africa?

Mauritius, according to the 2026 Global Peace Index, where it ranks 18th in the world. It is followed by Equatorial Guinea and Botswana.

What are the top 10 safest countries in Africa?

In the 2026 index: Mauritius, Equatorial Guinea, Botswana, The Gambia, Madagascar, Namibia, Morocco, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Ghana.

Which is the safest African country for tourists?

By the index, Mauritius. For travellers, Botswana, Namibia, Cape Verde and Sao Tome and Principe also stand out, the last of which isn't in the index because of its size. Always check the FCDO advice before booking.

Which country in Africa has the lowest crime rate?

There's no reliable like-for-like crime data for every African country. Mauritius, Rwanda, Botswana and small island states such as Cape Verde and Sao Tome and Principe are generally considered among the lowest for violent crime.

Why isn't Sao Tome and Principe in the ranking?

Because the index only covers 163 countries and excludes the smallest ones for lack of comparable data. It isn't a negative assessment.

Is Africa a dangerous continent to travel in?

Generalising makes no sense: there are 54 countries with very different realities. There are areas the FCDO advises against, and countries with safety levels comparable to Europe.

Which African country is safest for a woman travelling alone?

Mauritius, Cape Verde, Rwanda, Botswana and Sao Tome and Principe stand out for low levels of street harassment and crime.

Which African countries should I avoid?

Those with active armed conflict or jihadist activity. The FCDO marks the countries and regions where it advises against all or all but essential travel; always check the latest version before booking.

A calm destination that isn't on the lists yet

The safest country in Africa on paper is Mauritius. But if you're looking for a safe African country that is also free of crowds and with landscapes that haven't been turned into a tourist product, Sao Tome and Principe ticks every box.

Our 8-day Sao Tome and Principe circuit explores the islands privately, with a local English-speaking guide and a 4x4 with driver, from €1,250 per person (flights not included).

Read our complete Sao Tome and Principe travel guide or get in touch.