What this document is
This page summarises the Safe Cities Index, a research report and ranking produced by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The first edition appeared in 2015, and further editions have followed in subsequent years, each assessing a set of major cities around the world.
The index is designed to give policymakers, businesses and the public a comparative view of how safe the world’s leading urban centres are, and how the different dimensions of safety relate to one another.
What it covers
The Safe Cities Index measures urban safety across several pillars, which have traditionally included:
- Digital security: protection against cyber threats and the resilience of digital infrastructure;
- Health security: access to healthcare and public-health outcomes;
- Infrastructure security: the safety and reliability of physical infrastructure;
- Personal security: exposure to crime, violence and other threats to individuals.
Each pillar draws on a range of indicators, and later editions have expanded the framework — for example by adding an environmental-security dimension — to reflect a broader understanding of what makes a city safe.
Why it matters
City-safety rankings shape reputations, influence investment and travel decisions, and inform urban policy. Because the Safe Cities Index combines multiple dimensions into a single, comparable framework, it is widely cited in journalism, academic work and city planning.
That frequent citation is why external sites link to this document, and why we host a neutral summary here to keep those references working. We do not reproduce specific rankings or scores, as these differ from edition to edition — always consult the original report for exact figures.
Frequently asked questions
Who publishes the Safe Cities Index?
The Safe Cities Index is produced by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the research and analysis division associated with The Economist. Editions have appeared periodically since 2015.
What does the index measure?
It ranks major world cities across several pillars of safety, traditionally including digital security, health security, infrastructure security and personal security. Later editions have added further dimensions such as environmental security.
How are cities scored?
Each city is assessed against a set of indicators grouped under those pillars, combining quantitative data with qualitative measures. The results are aggregated into an overall score and a ranking, with detailed pillar-level breakdowns.
Where can I read the original report?
The index is published by the Economist Intelligence Unit. This page is only a reference summary and not the original source.