Most "best countries for expats" lists are glossy brochures that push the same 10 European destinations. This isn't that list.
This is the opposite — the 10 worst countries for expats in 2026 based on real data: Global Peace Index rankings, InterNations Expat Insider survey, healthcare scores, and cost-of-living realities. But we're also flagging 3 countries that are surprisingly getting better — places that were terrible in 2020 but have quietly turned a corner.
Key Takeaways
- The 10 worst countries for expats in 2026 are dominated by active conflict zones, severely repressive regimes, and collapsing economies
- InterNations 2025 Expat Insider names Kuwait, Turkey, and Norway among the hardest to settle in (based on settling-in difficulty, not danger)
- Venezuela, Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, Haiti remain effectively off-limits for most expats due to safety and logistics
- 3 surprise improvers: Colombia, Vietnam, and Georgia — all dramatically better than their 2015 reputations suggest
- What "worst" means here: We're filtering for safety, legal infrastructure, healthcare access, cost predictability, and ability to actually live a daily life — not just tourism safety
How We Picked the 10 Worst
"Worst" is subjective — but safety, healthcare access, and legal infrastructure are not. We weighted these four data sources:
- Global Peace Index 2026 (rank 150+ out of 163 = danger zone)
- InterNations Expat Insider 2025 (bottom quartile on work-life, settling-in, quality of life)
- WHO healthcare ranking (bottom 20% globally)
- Currency stability + inflation (hyperinflation or severe collapse disqualifies)
Combining these gives a realistic "daily life" score — not just tourism safety. A country can be dangerous but livable (e.g., Mexico in certain regions) and a country can be "safe" on paper but miserable to live in (e.g., places with collapsed healthcare or 100%+ inflation).
The 10 Worst Countries for Expats in 2026
1. Afghanistan 🇦🇫
- Global Peace Index: #163 (last place for 5th consecutive year)
- Why it's on the list: Taliban-controlled, women's rights near-nonexistent, international banking severed, Western embassies closed
- Realistic expat option? Effectively none — journalists and aid workers only, with security
2. Yemen 🇾🇪
- Global Peace Index: #162
- Why: Ongoing civil war, 17 million people food-insecure, healthcare system collapsed
- Expat reality: Foreign citizens actively evacuated by home governments
3. Syria 🇸🇾
- Global Peace Index: #161
- Why: Post-civil war recovery, sanctions, destroyed infrastructure, refugee crisis
- Expat reality: A few NGO workers only; most Western nationals advised against all travel
4. Russia 🇷🇺
- Global Peace Index: #160
- Why: War in Ukraine, sanctions cutting off banking (Visa/MasterCard suspended), visa restrictions for Westerners, risk of conscription for dual citizens
- Expat reality: Pre-2022 expat community has largely left. Even remote work setups face payment/banking issues.
5. Venezuela 🇻🇪
- Global Peace Index: #145
- Why: Hyperinflation (100%+ annually), political crisis, water/electricity shortages, healthcare collapse, Numbeo Crime Index: 80.7 (highest globally)
- Expat reality: Those who haven't left are largely dual-nationals with family
6. Haiti 🇭🇹
- Global Peace Index: ~#150
- Why: Gang control of most of Port-au-Prince, no functional national government since 2024, kidnapping endemic
- Expat reality: Even aid organizations have evacuated most staff
7. North Korea 🇰🇵
- Global Peace Index: #153
- Why: Near-total isolation, mandatory government minders, no internet access, extreme surveillance
- Expat reality: No real option unless working for a specific NGO (and even then, severely restricted)
8. South Sudan 🇸🇸
- Global Peace Index: #159
- Why: Ethnic conflict, famine conditions, displaced population, weak institutions
- Expat reality: Aid workers only, with heavy security protocols
9. Democratic Republic of Congo 🇨🇩
- Global Peace Index: #158
- Why: Ongoing armed conflict in eastern provinces, disease outbreaks (Ebola, Mpox), weak healthcare
- Expat reality: NGO and extractive industry workers; daily life outside Kinshasa is dangerous
10. Somalia 🇸🇴
- Global Peace Index: #157
- Why: Al-Shabaab insurgency, kidnapping risk, failed state institutions, no functional healthcare
- Expat reality: Aid workers and journalists only; compounds and armed escorts required
Honorable "Dishonor" Mentions
These didn't make the top 10 but are worth flagging:
- Iraq (#155): Post-conflict recovery, sectarian tensions, but expat scene growing in Kurdistan region
- Mali (#154): Coup-driven instability, French departure affecting security
- Sudan (#156): Civil war since 2023, humanitarian disaster
- Myanmar (#152): Military coup, civil war in border regions, ongoing economic collapse
What InterNations Survey Says (A Different Angle)
The InterNations Expat Insider 2025 survey ranked countries based on actual expat experiences — not geopolitical risk. Their "bottom 10" for expat quality of life was very different:
Worst for settling-in:
- Kuwait 🇰🇼 (cultural adjustment, expat isolation)
- Turkey 🇹🇷 (recent inflation, local-expat tensions)
- Norway 🇳🇴 (yes, really — hard to make local friends, expensive)
- Germany 🇩🇪 (bureaucracy, language barrier, social distance)
- Japan 🇯🇵 (language, work-life balance, feeling like an outsider)
- South Korea 🇰🇷 (work hours, social integration)
These aren't dangerous countries. They're just hard to settle into as a foreigner — which matters for daily life.
The 3 Surprise Improvers
Now for the counter-narrative. These countries had bad reputations 5–10 years ago but have quietly gotten much better:
1. Colombia 🇨🇴
Reputation 2010: Narco-violence capital of the world Reality 2026: One of Latin America's most welcoming expat destinations
- Global Peace Index: #147 (still not great, but...)
- Medellín is genuinely one of the best cities for expats in the Americas
- Cost of living: $900–$1,500/month for a comfortable lifestyle
- Digital nomad visa: Launched 2023, easy to obtain with $900/month income
- Why it improved: Major peace deal with FARC (2016), massive tourism investment, urban renewal
- Where to live: Medellín, Bogotá's financial district, coastal Santa Marta
- Where NOT to live: Rural areas where cartel influence persists
Our Colombia expat guide covers visa options, safe neighborhoods, and realistic costs.
2. Vietnam 🇻🇳
Reputation 2010: War history, chaotic infrastructure, little English Reality 2026: Booming digital nomad hub with low cost and high quality of life
- Global Peace Index: Moderate (top 50%)
- Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang have thriving expat scenes
- Cost of living: $900–$1,400/month (single expat)
- Internet: Fast fiber at $15/month (200+ Mbps)
- Why it improved: Rapid urban development, foreign investment, tourism infrastructure, English adoption
- Visa status: Digital nomad visa rumored but not yet launched; business visas work for most nomads
3. Georgia 🇬🇪
Reputation 2010: Post-Soviet chaos, war with Russia (2008) Reality 2026: One of Europe's easiest visa regimes and best value destinations
- 1-year visa-free stay for most Western nationalities (rare!)
- Cost of living: $800–$1,200/month in Tbilisi
- Fast fiber internet, strong nomad community
- Why it improved: Pro-Western reforms, tax simplification (1% individual entrepreneur tax), visa liberalization
- Where to live: Tbilisi (capital), Batumi (coastal), Kutaisi (smaller)
What "Worst" Doesn't Mean
Let's be clear about what this list is NOT:
- ❌ A list of countries no one should visit
- ❌ A condemnation of people who live there by necessity
- ❌ A reflection on the cultures or people of these countries
It IS:
- ✅ A warning about where moving as a foreign expat is currently extremely risky or impractical
- ✅ Based on current 2026 data — these situations change
- ✅ Useful information if you're weighing your options
Some countries on this list (Russia, Venezuela, Syria, Myanmar) were once legitimate expat destinations. They can become so again. Situations evolve.
What to Do With This Information
If you're considering a move abroad in 2026, avoid the 10 worst list entirely unless you have a specific professional reason (journalism, aid work, diplomacy) and institutional security support.
Instead, look at the 10 safest countries in 2026 or the surprise improvers — Colombia, Vietnam, Georgia — if you want affordable locations with quality-of-life upside.
For personalized recommendations based on your budget, priorities, and visa options, try our Country Match Quiz — 2 minutes, 7 questions, AI ranks all 122 countries for your specific situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it ever okay to live in a country on this list?
For most expats — no. These are active conflict zones, collapsed economies, or repressive states. Journalists, diplomats, and aid workers operate there with institutional security. Casual expats shouldn't.
Are these rankings likely to change?
Yes. Some of these countries will improve over the next 5–10 years (as Colombia and Vietnam did). Others may get worse. The Global Peace Index is updated annually — check the current data before making decisions.
Why isn't Iran on the list?
Iran is borderline — it's restrictive, has currency crisis, and US/Western tensions make banking and travel difficult. But it's not in active civil war like Yemen or Syria. Some expats do live there, particularly dual nationals.
Is the US on any "worst for expats" list?
The US ranks low (~#130) on the Global Peace Index due to incarceration rates, gun violence, and military involvement abroad. But it's not in the bottom tier — it's livable with reasonable daily life for most people. See our analysis in Record Numbers of Americans Leaving the U.S..
What about climate-based "worst" countries?
Climate matters but it's highly subjective. Someone who loves heat will hate Iceland. Someone who loves cool weather will hate Thailand. This list focuses on objective safety and infrastructure — not personal preferences.
Sources: Global Peace Index 2026 (Institute for Economics and Peace), InterNations Expat Insider 2025 Report, WHO Healthcare Rankings, Numbeo Crime Index 2026, and current-events verification (April 2026).
Last updated: April 13, 2026
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