Argentina ranked third safest country in Latin America in 2025

Argentina is the third safest country in Latin America for expats and international residents in 2025, according to a Latin America Safety Index survey conducted by the travel website ArgentinaExpat.   

The analysis assessed 23 countries across the region on seven key safety factors, including homicide rates, rule of law, theft, road safety, kidnapping, and sexual assault. Data was collected from leading international organizations including the WHO, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, and the World Justice Project.

Chile and Uruguay ranked first and second in the safety index, respectively. Costa Rica and El Salvador rounded out the top five. The most dangerous countries were Haiti, Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia, in that order.

According to the report, these results demonstrate that security fundamentals “can remain strong even during periods of economic volatility.” Argentina’s homicide rate of 3.8 per 100,000 people is among the lowest in Latin America, and it registered fewer kidnapping incidents than virtually all of the nations surveyed. The country’s road safety standards are likewise among the best in the region.

However, the study did note that Argentina’s rate of theft is higher than some of the other, safer countries like Costa Rica, and urged expats to remain vigilant over their personal belongings, particularly in urban areas.

Argentina’s appeal to international residents stems from its low rates of violent crime and established expat communities in major cities like Buenos Aires and Mendoza. The report also praised the nation’s sophisticated cultural offerings and the beauty of its architecture, whose influences span western Europe.

While tourists hoping to visit Argentina can secure visas with relative ease, the country has recently tightened its international travel policies, which now mandate that all entrants must pay for a health insurance plan. President Javier Milei has also made immigration more difficult by issuing an executive decree that requires foreign nationals stay in the country continuously for a period of two years before applying for citizenship or permanent residence.