Defining dangerous destinations for expats

As the world becomes an even more dangerous place, expats are advised to check safety standards before accepting an overseas posting.

Popular expat surveys make interesting reading for would-be expats choosing their next port of call, but rarely tell it like it is as regards safety and security. A country doesn’t necessarily have to be an active war zone before it’s classed as unsafe for foreign workers or retirees, especially as unrest and violence seems to be spreading across the planet at a rate not seen since early in the last century. The recent and still unending Hong Kong protests are a prime example of the trend, with the island famed for its safety and security until three short months ago.

Expats in general are fully aware of the increasing numbers of countries considered unsafe for foreigners, most of which are located in or around the Gulf States and Africa. Checking online embassy sites for travel warnings is mandatory nowadays, and reports such as the Institute for Economics and Peace’s Global Peace Index can provide essential updates on the latest developments in at-risk countries. The reports contain three areas of concern for would-be expats – safety and security, ongoing conflict militarisation, deaths from internal conflict, the risk of political terrorism and the murder rate.

Unsurprisingly, Afghanistan tops their latest listing as the world’s most dangerous expat destination. Following on are Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Libya, with African danger zones including the Congo, the Central African Republic, Somalia and South Sudan. Russia is also considered as dangerous for foreigners to visit, making it the tenth most dangerous world destination. For expats in the oil and gas sector, inherent dangers in destination countries are considered the norm, but would-be expats planning on volunteering with organisations based in these states may not quite appreciate the risks, nor realise that, in the majority of so-called ‘dangerous expat destinations’, areas exist which are generally safe provided common sense is called into play.