The Middle East and North Africa is the riskiest region, heavily represented among the 10 riskiest countries.
Drum Cussac, a global security consultancy, has ranked Syria the riskiest country in the world on its 2019 World Risk Map, based on 20 risk markers grouped under five categories: security, political, medical, environmental and infrastructural.
The Middle East and North Africa is the riskiest region, heavily represented among the 10 riskiest countries.
North and Central Africa had notably high levels of infrastructural, environmental and medical risk. Drum Cussac said diseases like malaria, cholera and typhoid, along with poor access to medical facilities and medication, form a threat there.
Additionally, poor aviation safety standards and large areas of poorly maintained roads pose challenges to mobility.
Another threat is the growing lawlessness in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring areas, as criminals and militias taking advantage of fractured governments.
Among countries with populations of a million or more, Taiwan and Uruguay were the lowest risk, which Drum Cussac attributed to political stability and relatively strong economies.
Top 10 countries for overall risk
1. Syria
2. Yemen
3. Afghanistan
4. Libya
5. The Republic of South Sudan
6. Somalia
7. Central African Republic
8. Iraq
9. Democratic Republic of Congo
10. Burundi
Source: Business Travel News