Why Canadian list naming Philippines world's most dangerous country was brought down

In early June Canadian travel firm HelloSafe released its "2025 Safety Index," placing the Philippines at the top of its list of most dangerous countries, with a score of 82.31.

It was followed by Colombia (79.21), Mexico (78.42), India (77.86), and Russia (75.65).

The index was based on 35 criteria grouped into five categories: frequency of natural disasters, societal violence, armed conflict (internal or external), health infrastructure, and militarization.

Countries were rated on a scale from 0 (safest) to 100 (most dangerous).

The ranking sparked immediate outrage in the Philippines.

On June 19 the Department of Tourism issued a statement questioning the index’s credibility.

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said the ranking had "caused serious and lasting harm," warning that such reports could damage the country’s image and threaten tourism-related livelihoods.

"What was presented as an objective safety index was, in fact, built on questionable data," she said, adding that HelloSafe failed to disclose its methodology or identify data sources.

Industry leaders echoed her concerns.

Maria Paz Alberto, president of the Philippine IATA Agents Travel Association, warned that misleading reports like this could deter visitors and harm tourism businesses, Philstar reported.

Arthur Lopez, president of the Philippine Hotel Owners Association, called the index "misleading" and "detrimental" to the tourism and hospitality industry.

Many foreign tourists also rejected the ranking.

"I traveled solo in the Philippines and had no issues at all," one traveler said.

Another wrote: "The Philippines is generally safe to visit, with some of the friendliest people in Asia. If you respect the culture, you’ll be treated the same."

One commenter said they do not agree with the ranking. "The Philippines is a safe place with warm hospitality. Crime is down, and serious cases get resolved. I hope visitors aren’t misled by this advisory."

On Reddit, several users said they felt safer in the Philippines than in the U.S., making the claims even more laughable.

Amid mounting criticism, HelloSafe issued an apology on July 15 and announced it had withdrawn the ranking pending a "full audit of the methodology and criteria."

"We sincerely regret the misunderstanding and negative perception caused by the publication."

It had no intention of stigmatizing any country, including the Philippines, it claimed.

It said the Philippines’ ranking was primarily due to natural risks such as typhoons and earthquakes—factors beyond any nation’s control and not reflective of its people, government or institutions.

Tourism is a vital part of the Philippine economy, contributing 2.35 trillion pesos (US$41 billion) in 2024 or 8.9% of GDP.

The country received 2.54 million foreign visitors in the first five months of this year, a 1.2% decline from the same period in 2024.