which of theses countries is the safest place to live for an uk
citizen and why? (2adults 2children)
Afghanistan
Algeria
Angola
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Benin
Bhutan
Botswana
Brunei
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
China
Comoros
Djibouti
Equatorial Guinea
Ethiopia
Gabon
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
Indonesia
Iran
Ivory Coast
Jordan
Kuwait
Laos
Lebanon
Libya
Madagascar
Mali
Maldives
Mauritania
Mongolia
Morocco
Mozambique
Nepal
Niger
Oman
Philippines
Qatar
Rwanda
Samoa
Sao Tome e Principe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Somalia
Sudan
Syria
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
USSR
United Arab Emirates
Vanuatu
Vietnam
Yemen
Yemen South
Zaire
Zimbabwe

Dear Pedro Dublin,

Thank you for your interesting question. "Safe" is quiet relative
term: there is personal safety, in the sense of hostility against
Britons as citizens of a Western country, ally of the United States;
who are also considered by the population to be "rich". One should not
overlook also some individual hazards: diseases, violence in schools
(after all, two children), etc. And of course, there is the random
factor: Was Phuket safe for Britons a year ago? Was it safe on
December 26th last year? Even the safest, most tranquil, place, could
experience a Tsunami, an Earthquake, a major fire, etc.

Since the USSR doesn't exist anymore, I assumed you meant the Russian
Federation, which "replaced" some of it; Since the civil war and the
fall of Mbuto, "Zaire" calls itself "Democratic Republic of Congo";
Ivory Coast calls itself Cote D'Ivoire; Yemen and Southern Yemen are
also united, for several years now (Where did you get this list? Do
you also have there East and West Germany? Austro-Hungary? The Holy
Roman Empire?).

In any case, the analysis found that Samoa is the "safest" of the list
you've presented:
-	It does not appear on any travel warnings 
-	It has relatively lower level of crime
-	It ranks well on democracy, civil rights and political rights
-	Neither its government nor its population is hostile towards
Westerners in general or UK citizens in particular
-	It ranks relatively well on the UN human development index

In addition, and it is also important, many speak English as their
first language, which makes it comfortable for a UK citizen.


Indexes used: 
------------

- Travel warnings for UK citizens published by the FCO 
<http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1095423800990>
; this has eliminated many of the countries (or made them less
attractive).

- Freedom and democracy index (what is the chance that you'll get
arrested by the security forces for reading this Internet site?). The
2005 Freedom Index by Freedom House has been used:
Freedom in the World 2005
<http://www.freedomhouse.org/research/freeworld/2005/table2005.pdf> -
PDF document.

- Total recorded crime per 100,000 population, as collected by the UN: 
United Nations Surveys on Crime Trends and the Operations of Criminal
Justice Systems
< http://www.uncjin.org/Statistics/WCTS/trc000927.pdf> 

-	Human Development Indicators ? ranking of 175 countries by the UN 
< http://hdr.undp.org/statistics/data/index_indicators.cfm> - this
index includes equal rights for women; physicians per 100,000 people;
water, sanitation and other health indicators; level of the education
system; economic indicators; personal secutiry; environmental factors;
etc.

The HDI places the following according to their statistics: 
Brunei in place 31
Bahrain in place 37 
Qatar in place 44
Kuwait in place 46 
United Arab Emirates in place 48 
Libya in place 61 
Russian Federation in place 63
And Samoa is in place 70 

[Other countries to follow, among others: 
Saudi Arabia (73) ; Oman (79) ; Lebanon (83) ; Philippines (85) ;
Jordan (90); Tunisia (91) ; Cape Verde (103) ; China (104) ; Iran
(106) ; Algeria (107) ; Viet Nam (109) ; Syria (110) ; Indonesia (112)
; Mongolia (117) ; Botswana (125) ; Morocco (126) ; Vanuatu (128) ;
Laos (135) ; Bhutan (136) ; Sudan (138) ; Bangladesh (139) ; Togo
(141) ; Cameroon (142) ; Yemen (148) ; Madagascar (149) ; Burkina Faso
(173), and many more].

Except for the Russian Federation, all of the countries from the list,
which are placed before Samoa, are Muslim countries, where it could be
hazardous for a Briton to live, given the current situation. The issue
of human rights, women's rights; and status of non-Muslims in Muslim
countries should be also a factor. Given the level of terrorist
attacks and the political instability in general in the Russian
Federation, I wouldn't consider it a better place to live than Samoa
(and add the weather factor, which is also a safety issue ? where you
might break your leg in the Moscow snow, and where it never snows).

As an anecdotal story, I could tell you of another factor ? which I
couldn't find enough statistics for in order to put it in my research:
hate crimes and racism. If you are Black, Asian or Jewish, there are
several countries on this list "starring" as intolerant towards
minorities. Here is the anecdote: a friend of mine, who is a Black
Briton, taught English in several countries, and told me that almost
every time he had tried to go to a hotel, restaurant and so on in
Egypt and in the Gulf countries, he had encountered unbelievable
racism: asking him whether he is "really" British, accusing him of not
being a guest of the hotel, etc.

Since Oman has been mentioned here by several individuals, you're
probably asking: what's with Oman?

Well, I have also heard some good things about this country. However,
you've asked for a Research, not for anecdotes, and the research puts
it bellow the "safest" place ? Samoa.


Here is the full list: 


Afghanistan 	- risk in parts of the country		
		NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE) 

Algeria		- risk in parts of the country		
		NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Angola		- NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Bahrain		- 5-5-PARTLY FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Bangladesh	- All but essential travel (parts of the country) 
		4-4-PARTLY FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Benin		- According to Freedom House, Political Rights ranks 2; Civil
Liberties -2 and it is considered FREE
		- Place 159 on HDI (10/100,000)

Bhutan		- 6-5-NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)					

Botswana	- According to Freedom House, Political Rights ranks 2; Civil
Liberties -2 and it is considered FREE

Brunei		- 6-5	NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Burkina Faso	- 5-4 PARTLY FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Burundi		- risk in parts of the country; 5-5 PARTLY FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Cambodia	= 6-5					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Cameroon	- risk in parts of the country; 6-6 	NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Cape Verde	- According to Freedom House, Political Rights ranks 1 (the
best); Civil Liberties -1 and it is considered FREE
	- It ranks 103 in the HDI, with (17 physicians per 100,000 people)

Central African Republic 
		? All but essential travel; 6-5 	NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Chad		- risk in parts of the country; 6-5 	NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

China		- 7-6					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Comoros		- 4-4 PARTLY FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Congo ? Dem R. - risk in parts of the country;
		- 6-6					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Cote D'Ivoire 	- risk to Britons; 6-6			NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Djibouti	- 5-5 PARTLY FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Equatorial Guinea
		- 7-6 					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Ethiopia	- risk in parts of the country; 
		- 5-5 PARTLY FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Gabon		- 5-4 PARTLY FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Guinea		- All but essential travel (parts of the country)
		- 6-5					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Guinea Bissau	- risk in parts of the country; 
		- 4-4 PARTLY FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Indonesia	- risk in parts of the country; 
		- 3-4 PARTLY FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Iran		- risk in parts of the country; 
		- 6-6					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Jordan		- 5-4 PARTLY FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Kuwait		- 4-5 PARTLY FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Laos		- 7-6 					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Lebanon		- All but essential travel (parts of the country)
		- 6-5					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Libya		- All but essential travel (parts of the country)
		- 7-7					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Madagascar	- 3-3 PARTLY FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Mali		- risk in parts of the country
		According to Freedom House, Political Rights ranks 2; Civil
Liberties -2 and it is considered FREE
-	Ranks 172 in the HDI (with only 5 physicians per 100,000 population)
 
Maldives	- 6-5 					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Mauritania	- 6-5					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Mongolia	- According to Freedom House, Political Rights ranks 2; Civil
Liberties -2 and it is considered FREE
	- ranks 117 on the HDI (but physician situation is good: 254 doctors per 100,000)

Morocco		- 5-4 PARTLY FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Mozambique	- 3-4 PARTLY FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Nepal		- 5-5 PARTLY FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Niger		- risk in parts of the country
		- 3-3 PARTLY FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Oman		- 6-5 					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Philippines 	- risk in parts of the country
		According to Freedom House, Political Rights ranks 2; Civil
Liberties 5 and it is considered FREE
		Ranks 85 on the HDI (with 124 physicians/ 100,000)

Qatar		- 6-5 					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Russian Fed. 	- risk in parts of the country
		- 6-5					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Rwanda		- All but essential travel (parts of the country)
		- 6-5					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Samoa		- According to Freedom House, Political Rights ranks 2; Civil
Liberties -2 and it is considered FREE
		- 70 (70 physicians/100,000)

Sao Tome e Principe
		According to Freedom House, Political Rights ranks 2; Civil
Liberties -2 and it is considered FREE
-	Ranks 122 on the HDI list (with 47 physicians per 100,000) 

Saudi Arabia	- 7-7					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Senegal		- According to Freedom House, Political Rights ranks 2; Civil
Liberties -3 and it is considered FREE
	- Ranks 156 on the HDI list (with only 10 physicians per 100,000)

Somalia		- risk to Britons
		- 6-7					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Sudan		- risk in parts of the country
		- 7-7					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Syria		- 7-7					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Togo		- 6-5					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Tunisia		- 6-5					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Uganda		- risk in parts of the country 
		- 5-4 PARTLY FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

United Arab Emirates
		- 6-6					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Vanuatu		- According to Freedom House, Political Rights ranks 2; Civil
Liberties -2 and it is considered FREE

Vietnam		- 7-6 					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Yemen		- risk in parts of the country
		- 5-5	PARTLY FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Zimbabwe	- 7-6					NOT FREE (FREEDOM HOUSE)

Here are several links on and abour Samoa: 

CIA World Factbook
<http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ws.html> 

Visit Samoa
<http://www.visitsamoa.ws/> - when you go, please take me with you...

Samoan Observer 
<http://www.samoaobserver.ws/> - the shocking news of the day from
Samoa: corruption in the Health Ministry, a former female worker
arrested.

Samoan Sensation
<http://www.samoa.co.uk/> 

Linely Planet - Samoa
<http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/pacific/samoa/> 

Government of Samoa
<http://www.govt.ws/> 

I hope this answered your question. Please contact me if you need any
further clarifications on this answer before you rate it. My search
strategy: choose an index and search for it (e.g.: "crime" "by
country").

Oman.

A pal of mine has just returned and was most impressed.

It really depends on what you do in each of these countries, & not
actually being able to get into some of them would make some of them
very safe.

Pro is correct, Oman, A lot of British engineers work & live there, &
they are generally accepted well & looked after.

The Sultan of Oman is highly influential and employs British workers.
This would go mainly towards a plus score of safety for a UK citizen
working in Oman.

www.britishbuilding.com

To look at the question the other way round, i.e. ?Which is the least
safe place for a UK citizen to live?, have a look at the link below.
It is provided by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office and is
updated on a daily basis, as and when necessary. It is travel advice
on over 200 countries and is divided into two sections:
1.	Countries the FCO advises against ALL travel to.
2.	Countries the FCO advises against ALL BUT ESSENTIAL travel to.
http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1007029390590

This will allow you to make your list a lot shorter and also make a
more informed choice. I have also heard that Oman is a good one
however before you go anywhere it is worthwhile finding out what your
tax situation will be if you ever have to return to Blighty.

Best regards

cf

A formidable link, Norman.

You are getting better!

(At long last.)

Hello Bryan,

I keep trump cards up my sleeve, to play when people are least
expecting them. This a real compliment, coming from you, I think I
will put it on floppy disk and keep it forever.

I hope Pedrodublin-ga will forgive me for making a quick aside to
Bryan (Probo) about some other answer. I have no objection to people
using trade jargon to quickly communicate specialised ideas in a set
environment, however I do oppose the use of esoteric language to keep
the ?in crowd?, ?in? and the ?out crowd?, ?out?. This is what the
professional classes of the 18th century did and IMHO it should have
died with them. For many years I worked in under the umbrella of the
marketing department for a UK chemical giant (Not too many of those,
so you can probably guess which one). By the use of half intelligible
language, where the higher echelons more imply what they mean than
actually say it in a straightforward way the department can be turned
into a semi open cult. Unfortunately this is still too prevalent
today.

The previous lady did not so much, ask a question as make a command,
maybe this wasn?t intentional if this is how she is used to addressing
others and in a way where you had to infer what she wanted. Perhaps it
was clear to you but that is why I stuck my heels in and played broken
record. Anyway, now you know that let?s hope we can be friends again.

Norman.