Australia has fallen in the rankings of the safest countries to travel to.

Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection has unveiled its list of safest countries to travel to in 2024 with Canada claiming the top spot.

Australia has dropped from fourth to 10th on the list.

In unveiling the list, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection stated that the idea of a “safe place” has evolved.

Originally, it meant a place largely free from terrorist activity.

“Then it became a place that was safe from disease outbreaks. Now, it’s a place where all types of people can move about freely without discrimination or harassment,” the travel insurance company said.

“As definitions of a safe destination have evolved, so too have the world’s safest places. Are there places where people can move about freely, stay disease-free, and be sheltered from severe weather events?”

Blame the wildlife

Australia was the fourth safest place to travel to, last year.

Now it has only just made the top 10.

Berkshire Hathaway said it was ranked so highly because in 2022 there were 377 homicides in Australia and by comparison, the city of Chicago had 692 in the same year.

But people are being warned about Australia’s fauna.

Australia made the top 10 of the list. Photo: Getty

Deferring to the US State Department’s website, Berkshire Hathaway dug up a line that said Australia’s animals can be “dangerous”.

“From jellyfish to crocodiles, sharks, poisonous insects, and snakes, the continent and its waters host wildlife that merit awe and respect in equal doses,” it says.

Australia’s bio also included a friendly tip from You Could Travel, which urged people to wear sunscreen and constantly reapply, due to the giant hole in the ozone layer above the country.

The safest countries in the world

The Netherlands, which was in first place last year, has been dethroned as the safest country.

Canada was deemed the safest country, with Switzerland coming in second and then Norway.

Last year, Canada was in sixth place. It moved up the ranks due to cold weather and the low population density making it safe for travelling.

However, like every country on the list, there are a few things tourists need to look out for.

“Wildfires. Canada’s plethora of forests were seemingly all burning, which has reduced air quality in most major Canadian cities,” Berkshire Hathaway said.

“This made travel to Canada difficult for people with respiratory conditions.”

Berkshire Hathaway’s safest countries:

1. Canada
2. Switzerland
3. Norway
4. Ireland
5. Netherlands
6. United Kingdom
7. Portugal
8. Denmark
9. Iceland
10. Australia
11. New Zealand
12. Japan
13. France
14. Spain
15. Brazil.

At the bottom of the list is Brazil, which Berkshire Hathaway said was an “unexpected entry” into the top 15.

“Brazil gets high marks from survey respondents for women/people-of-colour/LGBTQ+ travel safety, and reasonable marks for safety from terrorism,” it said.

It was previously ranked 42 on the list.