A country’s reputation for corruption and its reputation for danger don’t always overlap. Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index measures how corrupt a country’s public sector is perceived to be. More than two thirds of countries, 122 out of 180, score under 50.[1] That makes “corrupt” a very wide label.
The Global Peace Index asks a different question. It scores national peacefulness, not the safety of any one tourist destination, so it’s a rough guide at best. Still, set the two lists side by side and a handful of places stand out. They rank poorly on public sector integrity and fairly well on peace.
Hungary
Hungary is the most peaceful country on this list. It ranks 15th in the 2026 Global Peace Index with a score of 1.54.[2] That puts it ahead of the Netherlands and not far behind Denmark.
Its corruption record is weaker. Hungary scored 40 in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, placing 84th, after losing a point.[3] Transparency International also names it among the countries whose scores have dropped most since 2012.[1] Budapest remains an easy city to walk around, and the numbers don’t contradict that.
Mauritius
Mauritius is the island pick. It remains the most peaceful country in sub-Saharan Africa and ranks 18th globally on the 2026 Global Peace Index.[4] Few places in Africa come close to it on that measure.
On corruption, the picture has softened. Mauritius scored 48 in 2025, ranking 61st, down three points from the year before.[5] A score of 48 sits just under the halfway mark, so it’s a mild case compared with others here.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria sits at 26th in the 2026 Global Peace Index. Its score is 1.63.[2] Within its wider region, it’s ranked as the most peaceful country, a sharp contrast with Russia at the other end.[4]
The corruption side is less flattering. Bulgaria and Hungary both scored 40 in the 2025 index.[6] Bulgaria’s score fell three points from 43 the previous year.[5] Travelers rarely meet this at street level, since the index is about public institutions rather than everyday tourist life.
Mongolia
Mongolia has the lowest corruption score among the eight. It scored 31 in the 2025 index.[6] That’s a long way below the top performers.
Its peace ranking is far stronger. Mongolia placed 34th in the 2026 Global Peace Index with a score of 1.692.[4] The gap between those two numbers is the widest on this list, which makes Mongolia the clearest example of the mismatch.
Albania
Albania is a small Balkan country with a modest corruption score. The 2025 index gave it 39.[7] That’s slightly below Hungary and Bulgaria.
Its peace record is better than that score might suggest. Albania ranks 36th in the 2026 Global Peace Index with a score of 1.725.[8] That puts it ahead of the United Kingdom, which scored 1.73 in the same ranking.
Vietnam
Vietnam is the largest country here by far. It scored 41 on the 2025 corruption index, up one point, and ranked 81st.[5] The trend is mildly positive, though the score is still low.
On peace, Vietnam ranks 41st in the 2026 Global Peace Index with a score of 1.738.[4] That also makes it eighth among the Asia Pacific countries in the report’s regional table.[4] The ranking is a national average, not a promise about any particular city.
Romania
Romania sits in the middle of the pack on both measures. It scored 45 on the 2025 corruption index, placing 70th, after losing a point.[3] That’s among the milder corruption scores on this list.
Its peace ranking is solid, if not spectacular. Romania placed 45th in the 2026 Global Peace Index with a score of 1.788.[4] That’s comfortably inside the upper half of the 163 countries ranked.
Namibia
Namibia rounds out the list. It scored 46 on the 2025 corruption index, a drop of three points.[5] That fall is a reminder that these scores move from year to year.
Its peace result is the lowest of the eight, though still respectable. Namibia ranks 63rd in the 2026 Global Peace Index with a score of 1.872.[4] That’s still well inside the upper half of the table.
The Numbers Side by Side
All eight countries scored below 50 on the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, and all ranked in the upper half of the 163 countries in the 2026 Global Peace Index. Hungary placed highest on peace, at 15th, while Mongolia scored lowest on corruption, at 31. Transparency International notes that high scores don’t guarantee a country is corruption free.[1]
The Global Peace Index measures national peacefulness rather than the safety of individual tourist spots, so local conditions and official travel advisories still matter when planning a trip.
