Low health risks, stable buildings, little theft and hardly any computer hackers – they’re the pros that landed these seven cities in the list of the world’s safest.
The 2015 list, which was released this week by the Economist Intelligence Unit, ranked 50 cities around the world across five continents.
Their safety was determined based on digital security, health risks as well as infrastructure and personal safety.
Tokyo was named the world’s safest city despite poor health standards. Image: robert cicchetti / Shutterstock.com
According to report editor James Chambers, the factors to determine a city’s safety are in line with our connected and online world.
“It is time to update our traditional understanding of a safe city. The risks today continue to multiply as everything is becoming connected and the online and offline environments converge.”
James Chambers, EIU Safest City Index report editor
Topping the list for 2015 is the capital of Japan and the largest city in the world, Tokyo.
Despite its grand [and extremely busy] size, the report highlighted that Tokyo excels in digital security.
However, there was definite room for improvement in health security.
Second on the list is Singapore, which over recent years has invested millions in developing its tourism industry from airport, cruising to building structure.
Japan’s second largest city Osaka landed the third safest city position, which is a testament to Japan’s commitment in building a positive and secure environment for travellers.
Also making the top 25 this year included Abu Dhabi, Rome and Milan as well as Australia’s very own Sydney and Melbourne.
Ho Chi Minh was at the bottom of this year’s list. Image: Khoi Nguyen Anh Dang / Shutterstock.com
Meanwhile, at the bottom of the list this year [making them the unsafest] are Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam; Tehran in Iran; and Jakarta in Indonesia.
The three were recognised for having the lowest safety standards, high health risks and unstable building structure among the 50 cities.
Check out the list of top seven safest cities below:
1. Tokyo, Japan
2. Singapore
Helix Bridge in Singapore ‘ pic.twitter.com/DTL2uYNexX
— Architecture& Design (@DreamHouseX) January 24, 2015
3. Osaka, Japan
4. Stockholm, Sweden
Image: Bas van den Heuvel/Shutterstock
5. Amsterdam, Netherlands
Image: S-F/Shutterstock
6. Sydney, Australia
7. Zurich, Switzerland
Vogel / Shutterstock.com