15 most dangerous countries you’ll have to cross off your bucket list

Venezuela has been going through a horrible economic crisis and political unrest, which has created a human rights crisis. There is no food, violent protests are numerous and the murder rate is increasing drastically. The whole country is bankrupted, so don’t expect to find a lot of resources if you need to go to the hospital or if you need any form of assistance. Here, even a good medical insurance won’t be able to save your life, when everything is missing from the hospital…

There are many terrorist groups that are very active in Yemen. It is not unheard of for rebel groups to kidnap and detain Americans and Europeans for political power. Moreover, Yemen is facing famine as we write this. It’s definitely a place to avoid if you hold on for dear life.

This Central American country is gorgeous and full of natural beauty. However, drug violence and gang violence in El Salvador is too important to ignore. Kidnappings are frequent and the country has never recovered from its civil war.

The home of the pyramids is still not a safe place to travel to, depending on which part you want to visit. Terror groups and uprisings are not uncommon, and threats of attacks are still daily concerns. You’ll have to wait a while to see some of the most wonderful wonders of the world.

Somalia might be a beach destination, but it’s not a tourist destination. There is a high threat of kidnap throughout Somalia. Terrorist groups have made threats against westerners and those working for western organizations. There is a constant threat of terrorist attacks in Magadishu and terrorists continue to plan attacks. Very few travel insurers will cover you if you still chose to go.

Land of lions, elephants, rhinoceros and leopards, Kenya has some of the most beautiful panoramas in the world. Unfortunately, political instability, as well as violent and common terrorist attacks, make it one of the most dangerous countries in the world. Again, if you chose to spend your savings on a trip to Kenya, make sure your life insurance is up to date.

Honduras, located in Central America, is one of the deadliest places on earth since it has one of the highest murder rates in the world. It is also one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, which means government corruption and drug trafficking dictate the law. This country is very unsafe for women travellers.

Russia has one of the highest per-capita rates of weapons exports and is highly militarized, which partially explains why you should never go there without being really informed. Its engagement in the Syrian conflict increased the country’s number of deaths from external conflict, and overall approval of its leadership declined from 35% to just over 30% from 2008 to 2018. It is also a very dangerous country for LGBTQ+ people, one that should be avoided altogether if you are queer yourself.

This South American country has had bloody conflicts with communist guerrilla warfare groups as well as with powerful drug lords. Violent crimes have been raging the country for 4 decades now and even though peace agreements were made in 2016, some parts of the country are still too dangerous to visit. Make sure you are covered by good travel insurance if you still chose to go.

Ukraine is still in conflict with its powerful neighbour Russia. Russia has taken over the Crimean peninsula and has thus created a military confrontation within this region as well as the Donetsk and Lugansk regions.

As the US trudges toward the 19th year of its war in Afghanistan, this country is officially the least peaceful country in the world and the site of the most violent conflict, according to the Institute for Economics and Peace’s annual report. The country recently replaced Syria as the least peaceful country. The real issue is the inability to solve these conflicts once they start.

Political violence and anti-American government groups have made this a very unsafe place for American tourists. There are many ISIS and Taliban training camps in Pakistan so this country should definitely be avoided at all costs.

Nigeria, particularly northeast Nigeria, is extremely dangerous. The jihadist militant group Boko Haram has been terrorizing the country for many years, which makes it one of the most dangerous countries in the world to visit.

Crime is a significant concern in urban areas with theft, physical assault and robbery being the most common crimes reported to local authorities last year. Several militant groups see kidnap-for-ransom as a way to fund their operations, and foreigners are often targeted. Crimes related to methamphetamine production and distribution are also a concern. Do not travel to the Sulu Archipelago or to Marawi City in Mindanao due to crime, terrorism and civil unrest.

Vacationing in Mexico is a popular choice among U.S. tourists. Unfortunately, Mexico also has its fair share of dangerous areas that travelers should avoid. If you are travelling to one of the most dangerous cities, it is advisable to stay at your resort. This is the case for travel destinations in Los Cabos, Acapulco, Tijuana, La Paz, Ciudad Victoria. Culiacán, Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua. Your souvenir shopping will have to be at your hotel or at the airport…