In the late 2023 report by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP), Canada has secured its position as the safest country for travelers in 2023-2024. The comprehensive rankings are derived from an amalgamation of measures within BHTP’s State of Travel Insurance research. This intricate evaluation encompasses six sub-category scores as the foundation for the overall rankings.
BHTP’s commitment to precision is evident in its approach, as it not only relies on its own surveyed ratings but also integrates additional data from various sources. These include indices such as the Global Peace Index and the travel safety ratings provided by the State Department. Notably, BHTP takes into account the GeoSure Global scores of major cities within each country, creating a well-rounded perspective.
The culmination of these diverse measures results in BHTP’s calculation of a weighted score, offering a nuanced and comprehensive reflection of each country’s overall safety. In this regard, Canada emerges as the epitome of a secure and welcoming destination for travelers.
For a comprehensive understanding of BHTP’s findings in the 2023-2024 report, including insights into historical shifts in their rankings, important caveats, and an in-depth exploration of the methodology behind these rankings, you can access the complete report by clicking here.
Canada’s ranking is up five spots from a year ago
Elevating from the sixth position in BHTP’s rankings last year, Canada has now claimed the top spot as the world’s safest destination for travel in the current year.
The report attributes Canada’s high ranking to factors such as its cold weather and low population density, creating an environment conducive to safe travel experiences. The comprehensive report dedicated individual sections to the top 15 countries in BHTP’s rankings, featuring insights under the heading “what you need to watch out for.”
In Canada’s case, the report highlighted wildfires as an area of concern for travelers. It pointed out that the abundance of forests in Canada was experiencing widespread fires, impacting air quality in major cities and making travel challenging, particularly for individuals with respiratory conditions. Despite this consideration, Canada’s overall safety credentials have propelled it to the forefront of the rankings.
The dedicated section on Canada in the report, featuring a quote from Gap Year Travel Store, encapsulates the country’s travel safety succinctly, stating, “As traveling destinations go, it really doesn’t get much safer than Canada. Violent crime is comparatively low, and there is a low incidence of gun-related crime.” This endorsement highlights Canada’s outstanding safety record, emphasizing its reputation as an exceptionally secure and low-risk destination for travelers.
Breaking down Canada’s ranking by sub-category
BHTP’s report employs a comprehensive set of dimensions to formulate an overall ranking of the safest countries for travel. These dimensions encompass safety from violent crime, safety from terrorism, transportation safety, health measures (including disease control), and safety for specific groups such as women, travelers of color, and LGBTQ+ travelers.
Remarkably, Canada secured the top position in each of the sub-categories integrated into this year’s ranking. For a detailed breakdown of the top 10 countries in each sub-category, you can refer to this link.
It’s worth noting that transportation safety, a crucial aspect of the assessment, is defined by BHTP as covering countries with well-developed road and transportation systems (excluding Iceland) or those with a limited need for extensive travel (such as Iceland). This multi-dimensional approach ensures a comprehensive evaluation, with Canada consistently leading across various safety criteri
BHTP rankings by age and income
BHTP highlights that respondents for the 2023-2024 rankings exhibited diverse perceptions of the world’s safest countries, influenced significantly by their age and income levels. Despite these variations, Canada consistently maintained a position within the top four safest countries for travel across most sub-groups.
In contrast to the general rankings, the data illustrates how Canada’s standing in BHTP’s assessments would have shifted based on responses from specific demographic groups. This nuanced analysis sheds light on the nuanced perspectives within different segments of the population, showcasing Canada’s enduring appeal as a secure travel destination across varied demographic considerations.
Millennials
Within the demographic of Millennials surveyed by BHTP, Canada secured the fourth position in the overall travel safety rankings. The top three countries in this specific group were Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom (UK). This insight provides a targeted perspective on how Millennials perceive travel safety, showcasing Canada as a solid choice within their considerations, albeit behind a few other destinations in this particular age group.
Gen Z
For respondents from Generation Z participating in BHTP’s survey, Canada maintained its top position as the number one destination for overall travel safety. This underscores Canada’s appeal and perceived safety among the younger demographic, solidifying its position as a preferred and secure travel choice for members of Generation Z.
Respondents with a household income over $200,000
For survey respondents falling within a specific household income category, Canada secured the second position in overall travel safety, with Portugal being the sole country ahead in the rankings. This insight underscores Canada’s strong standing in safety considerations within the context of the specified income demographic, positioning it as a highly favorable destination for those within this particular economic bracket.
Respondents spending more than $25,000 per year on travel
For respondents in the specified travel spending category from BHTP’s survey, Canada claimed the sixth position in overall travel safety. The countries ranking higher in safety within this spending category were the Netherlands, Hungary, the United Kingdom (UK), the Bahamas, and Portugal. This nuanced perspective sheds light on how perceptions of travel safety in Canada vary among individuals with specific travel spending habits, positioning it within the top tier but below some other destinations in this particular category.
“Mature” survey respondents
While the report doesn’t explicitly define the age criteria for “mature” respondents, those falling into this category ranked Canada as the ninth safest country for travel overall. In this demographic, Canada was positioned below the following countries in terms of travel safety:
Iceland
South Korea
Sweden
Japan
Denmark
Norway
New Zealand
Ireland
This ranking provides valuable insights into how individuals classified as “mature” perceive travel safety, with Canada maintaining a place within the top ten but trailing behind these specific nations according to their evaluations.
Parents
Among the parents who participated in BHTP’s survey, Canada retained its position as the top destination for overall travel safety. This indicates that, according to parents’ perspectives, Canada is considered the most secure and favorable choice for travel, reinforcing its reputation as a family-friendly and safe destination.
LGBTQ+ travellers
Remarkably, among respondents from the LGBTQ+ community in the BHTP survey, Canada was notably absent from their top 10 safest countries for travel. This unique perspective sheds light on the distinct considerations and perceptions within this specific sub-group, signaling that, for LGBTQ+ respondents, other destinations were perceived as safer options.
