Singapore: The Gold Standard of Nighttime Safety
In 2024, Singaporeans were the most likely in the world to say they feel safe walking alone at night, with 98% of adults reporting feeling safe. This remarkable achievement represents Singapore holding the No. 1 spot 12 times since Gallup first began measuring perceptions of safety in 2006.
What makes Singapore’s success even more impressive is its gender parity in safety perception. In 2024, 98% of men and 97% of women said they feel safe walking alone at night, reflecting consistently low crime, effective law enforcement, and strong public order. This near-universal confidence creates an environment where midnight food markets thrive and late-night exploration feels natural.
The report highlights Singapore’s strong public order, low crime rate, and effective law enforcement as key factors behind this consistent achievement. The city-state has transformed itself into a model where residents genuinely trust their streets after dark.
Gulf States: A Regional Success Story
According to The Global Safety Report released by Gallup, five out of the top 10 are GCC countries, with Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the UAE all ranking in the top ten. This regional dominance reflects a shared approach to security and governance that prioritizes public safety.
These rankings reflect a broader combination of factors, including centralized governance, strong public order, and sustained investment in urban safety and infrastructure. The UAE specifically maintains exceptional consistency, with this figure never being below 90 percent.
The Gulf region’s success stems from a visible security presence and strict enforcement. In many GCC countries, a shared emphasis on security, enforcement, and visible state presence helps foster a pervasive sense of safety among residents.
United States: A Country Gripped by Fear
American perceptions of nighttime safety paint a troubling picture that contradicts actual crime trends. Forty percent of Americans are afraid to walk alone at night near their home, the most since 1993. This represents a dramatic shift in how Americans view their own neighborhoods.
The fear extends beyond simple caution into genuine anxiety about violent crime. A recent Gallup poll found that 28% of Americans worry frequently or occasionally that they will be murdered, according to a Nov. 16 news release. That’s a near-record high.
These heightened fears create a paradox when compared to actual crime data. These heightened fears are largely out of step with the downward trend of violent crime in the United States. Violent crime in the U.S. peaked in 1991 at a level of 758 offenses per 100,000 people. Since then, it has precipitously fallen. After a comparatively small increase during 2020, violent crime fell back to pre-pandemic levels of 380 offenses per every 100,000 people in 2022.
New York City: When Media Meets Reality
New York’s complex relationship with nighttime safety reflects broader urban challenges across America. More than half (59 percent) feel safe walking alone in their neighborhood at night, a 16 percent decline from previous years.
Despite ongoing safety concerns, the city has seen crime reductions in recent years. Overall crime was reduced during the first quarter of 2024 compared to 2023. Crime in the transit system dropped 23.5% while arrests increased by nearly 53%. Citywide crime has dropped 5% since last year’s first quarter.
Travel advisors consistently warn against solo nighttime walks in the city. In general, it is not a good idea to walk around alone in New York City at night. Crime can happen at any time of day, but the cover of darkness might permit more nefarious activity than daytime does. Our best advice is not to travel around NYC solo at night.
Memphis: America’s Most Dangerous Large City
Memphis once again tops the list, with a violent crime rate nearly six times the national figure. This Tennessee city consistently ranks as one of America’s most dangerous urban areas, creating an atmosphere where nighttime safety becomes a serious concern.
The city’s struggles with violence create real consequences for residents’ daily lives. South Memphis, Orange Mound, Frayser, and Hickory Hill have a reputation for frequent crime, and it is best to avoid them during your visit. Even the downtown area can be dangerous, so always remain aware of your surroundings, keep valuables hidden, and avoid walking alone at night.
Despite recent improvements, Memphis faces ongoing challenges. In 2024, Memphis, Tennessee, recorded the highest murder rate among America’s largest cities. This shift reflects Memphis’s ongoing struggle with systemic violence. However, Memphis saw a 30 percent decrease in homicides by the end of 2024, with overall crime dropping to a 25-year low across major categories.
Baltimore: The Robbery Capital
Detroit and Baltimore also have rates more than triple the U.S. average. Baltimore, Maryland, ranked second in murders while maintaining its position as the nation’s leader in robbery rates. This East Coast city struggles with deep-rooted problems that affect residents’ sense of security.
The city’s challenges stem from complex socioeconomic factors. Baltimore’s crime challenges stem from decades of economic decline, the opioid crisis, and other systemic issues highlighted by high-profile events like the 2015 killing of Freddie Gray and the subsequent protests.
Despite its proximity to the nation’s capital, Baltimore maintains a reputation as one of America’s most dangerous cities. The contrast between Baltimore and nearby Washington, DC, highlights how dramatically safety perceptions can vary even within the same metropolitan region.
South Africa: Gender-Based Safety Crisis
South Africa represents one of the world’s most dramatic examples of how fear affects daily life, particularly for women. In many South African communities, especially under-resourced townships and informal settlements, crime – including assault, robbery, and gender-based violence – remains a daily concern. Women face particularly high levels of insecurity: In 2024, just 25% of women said they feel safe walking alone at night, compared with 43% of men.
The stark gender divide in South Africa highlights how personal safety intersects with broader social issues. This twenty-point gap between men and women represents one of the world’s largest gender-based safety disparities.
The situation in South African townships creates communities where darkness brings genuine fear. The contrast with countries like Singapore, where gender parity in safety perception approaches perfection, demonstrates how dramatically safety experiences can vary globally.
The Global Pattern: Progress Amid Conflict
Despite widespread conflicts, global safety perceptions have reached historic highs. In 2024, Gallup’s global tracking reached a new milestone: 73% of adults worldwide said they feel safe walking alone at night in their city or area. This is the highest level recorded since Gallup began asking the question in 2006, surpassing the previous peak of 72% in 2020 and marking a 13-percentage-point increase over the past decade.
The improvement spans multiple regions, though some areas lag behind. The countries where residents feel the least safe are almost exclusively located in sub-Saharan Africa or Latin America and the Caribbean, a pattern consistent year after year. Myanmar, facing conflict and unrest, was the only country outside of those two regions to make the bottom 10 in 2024.
This global progress occurs against the backdrop of unprecedented conflict. This high score comes amid the largest number of armed conflicts since World War II, illustrating how communities are building safety from the ground up and proving their resilience. The data suggest that local governance and community-level safety measures matter more than broader geopolitical instability for residents’ daily sense of security.
The rankings reveal something profound about how societies function after dark. Cities where residents confidently walk midnight streets create vibrant economies and stronger communities. Those who fear domination see people retreat indoors, limiting social connections and economic activity. The gap between the safest and most dangerous places continues to widen, creating two entirely different experiences of urban life. What makes you feel safe walking home at night?