Urban Transformation

These are the safest cities around the world

Australian Protective Service guards are silhouetted as the sun sets at Tullamarine Airport before the arrival of alleged Nazi mass murderer Konrad Kalejs on January 7. Kalejs, a Lativian-born Australian citizen, returned to Australia in the wake of a storm surrounding his alleged leadership of a Nazi death squad in World War II, a claim the 86-year-old has always denied.WB/CC - RP2DRICYMJAA

Melbourne, Australia comes in at number five in The Economist's 2017 safe cities index. Image: REUTERS

Aine Cain
Careers Intern, Business Insider

Big cities aren't necessarily unsafe.

In fact, some of the safest cities in the world are urban hubs that boast low crime rates and high levels of safety.

The Economist's 2017 safe cities index, sponsored by NEC, ranked 60 cities based on the factors of personal security, digital security, health security, and infrastructure security.

Personal security takes into account urban crime, terrorism, and other violence. Digital security measures threats like cyber attacks. Health security considers healthcare access, hospitals, and emergency services. Infrastructure security looks into cities with safe buildings, roads, and bridges. The Economist analyzed 49 indicators across each aspect of security in order to come up with a score out of 100. Safer cities received higher scores.

Overall, however, The Economist found that man-made dangers, like cyber threats, terrorism, and inequality-induced violence are on the rise in urban areas.

No US cities cracked the very top of the list — San Francisco came closest, with a ranking of 15. On the other hand, Japan and Australia each saw two cities make the top 11.

Here are the safest cities around the globe:

11. Frankfurt, Germany

Overall score: 84.86

Personal security ranking: 11

Digital security ranking: 16

Health security ranking: 3

Infrastructure security ranking: 23

10. Zurich, Switzerland

Overall score: 85.2

Personal security ranking: 20

Digital security ranking: 19

Health security ranking: 4

Infrastructure security ranking: 10

9. Hong Kong

Overall score: 86.22

Personal security ranking: 7

Digital security ranking: 5

Health security ranking: 24

Infrastructure security ranking: 7

8. Stockholm, Sweden

Overall score: 86.72

Personal security ranking: 9

Digital security ranking: 13

Health security ranking: 10

Infrastructure security ranking: 4

7. Sydney, Australia

Overall score: 86.74

Personal security ranking: 12

Digital security ranking: 12

Health security ranking: 6

Infrastructure security ranking: 9

6. Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Overall score: 87.26

Personal security ranking: 10

Digital security ranking: 4

Health security ranking: 12

Infrastructure security ranking: 6

5. Melbourne, Australia

Overall score: 87.3

Personal security ranking: 8

Digital security ranking: 11

Health security ranking: 9

Infrastructure security ranking: 7

4. Toronto, Canada

Overall score: 87.36

Personal security ranking: 5

Digital security ranking: 6

Health security ranking: 11

Infrastructure security ranking: 14

3. Osaka, Japan

Overall score: 88.87

Personal security ranking: 3

Digital security ranking: 14

Health security ranking: 1

Infrastructure security ranking: 11

2. Singapore

Overall score: 89.64

Personal security ranking: 1

Digital security ranking: 2

Health security ranking: 13

Infrastructure security ranking: 1

1. Tokyo, Japan

Overall score: 89.8

Personal security ranking: 4

Digital security ranking: 1

Health security ranking: 2

Infrastructure security ranking: 12

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