The latest rankings of the world's most perilous travel destinations for 2024 have been unveiled.

As summer approaches rapidly, many of us are on the lookout for the perfect holiday spot.

Certainly, we all seek somewhere sunny, affordable, and, above all, safe.

The last thing anyone wants to worry about while traveling is being in a potentially risky location.

Fortunately, with the release of the 2024 risk map, travelers can now determine which destinations are safe to visit.

This comprehensive map, compiled by the medical and security consultancy International SOS, takes into account various factors, including medical, security, and, for the first time, climate change risks.

Countries are graded on a five-level scale, ranging from 'low' to 'very high' for medical and climate change risks, and from 'insignificant' to 'extreme' for security risks.

Additionally, Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, as reported by Forbes, has published a report to assist travelers in finding the safest holiday destinations.

The insurance company took into account various factors, including women's safety, theft, terrorism, weather conditions, and health and medical considerations.

Their findings identified Canada, Switzerland, and Norway as the safest countries to visit in 2024. Additionally, the safest cities listed were Honolulu, Hawaii; Montreal, Quebec; and Reykjavik, Iceland.

Interestingly, the risk map excludes Canada but includes Iceland, Luxembourg, and Denmark.

The list from Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection also ranks the United Kingdom at number 6, Australia at number 10, and Spain at number 14.

It's worth noting that the ratings in the travel insurance report are 'predictive', meaning they do not account for potential natural disasters.

While it's helpful to know the safest countries and cities to visit, it's equally important to be aware of the places to avoid.

According to the 2024 risk map, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, and Somalia are considered the most dangerous countries in the world.

South Sudan has been plagued by ongoing conflicts, resulting in casualties and displacements of civilians.

The US Department of State advises against travel to Afghanistan due to the risk of terrorism, wrongful detention, kidnapping, and crime.

Syria remains embroiled in a civil war, while Libya's security situation is described as fragile, with sporadic fighting and clashes.

Somalia is known for violent crimes like kidnapping and murder, as well as poor medical facilities and the presence of active pirates along its shores, as warned by the US Department of State.

There are a few surprises in the rankings, with Venezuela and Vietnam categorized as 'high' risk.

According to a report from Venezuelan news outlet Caracas Chronicles, the country welcomed 1.25 million foreign visitors in 2023, marking a significant increase from the previous year.

However, the US Department of State advises against travel to Venezuela 'due to crime, civil unrest, kidnapping, and the arbitrary enforcement of local laws'.

Vietnam is a popular travel destination, with Statista reporting approximately 108.2 million domestic tourists in 2023.

But Smarttraveller warns of high crime rates, with tourists often targeted for theft and incidents of spiked food and drinks. Additionally, severe weather conditions are prevalent between June and November.

For 'security' risks, Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and Somalia all received the highest warning level of 'extreme'.

In terms of 'medical' risks, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, North Korea, the Palestinian Territories, Haiti, Libya, Niger, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Sudan, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, Eritrea, Burundi, and Somalia were classified as 'very high'.

Countries labeled 'very high' risk for climate change include Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Chad, Niger, Mali, Nigeria, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Mozambique.