People feel safest walking alone at night in Singapore

This marks the 12th time Singapore has topped the safety-perception rankings by Gallup, an American multinational analytics and advisory company, since the survey began in 2006.

The report is based on more than 145,000 interviews across 144 countries and territories conducted last year.

When asked, "Do you feel safe walking alone at night in the city or area where you live?" 73% of adults worldwide said they feel safe, the highest global figure since Gallup began tracking the measure nearly two decades ago.

In Singapore, the rate was a standout 98%. Over the past five years, the share of residents reporting they feel safe has never fallen below 94%. Men and women report nearly identical levels of confidence this year: 98% of men and 97% of women said they feel safe walking alone at night in the Southeast Asian city state.

Gallup attributes Singapore's consistently high perceived safety to low crime rates, effective law enforcement and strong public order. The report also cautions that Singapore's success as a small, high-income island city-state may be difficult to replicate in other contexts.

Following Singapore in the rankings were Tajikistan (95%), China (94%), Oman (94%) and Saudi Arabia (93%).

Countries and territories where people feel safest and least safe around the world in 2024. Graphics by Gallup

At the other end of the scale, South Africa recorded the lowest share: just 33% of adults said they feel safe walking alone at night.

When Gallup first measured safety perceptions in South Africa in 2006, 41% of respondents said they felt safe walking alone at night. Since then, perceptions have generally remained lower, averaging closer to 31% in recent years.

In many South African communities — particularly under-resourced townships and informal settlements — crime, including assault, robbery and gender-based violence, remains a daily concern and continues to shape residents' perceptions of safety.

Regionally, people feel safest in the Asia-Pacific (79%) and Western Europe (77%) when walking alone at night.