Travel safety

Most dangerous countries in Oceania in 2026

Oceania countries ranked highest-risk first for 2026. The dominant safety driver in the region is natural-disaster exposure rather than crime.

· How Warnely scores risk →

Oceania has the lowest aggregate crime and civil-unrest scores of any region Warnely tracks. The countries on this list are therefore "highest-risk" in a relative sense within the region rather than in absolute terms. Several of them would not appear on any global highest-risk list.

The dominant driver is natural-disaster exposure, particularly cyclones, earthquakes, volcanic activity, and tsunami risk. Papua New Guinea is the regional outlier on crime and on tribal-conflict risk in specific provinces.

How this list is built. Filtered to Oceania countries. Sorted descending by Warnely risk score.

The list

1
🇵🇬

Papua New Guinea

63/100

Incredible biodiversity. High crime in cities. Tribal areas require guides. Adventurous destination only.

2
🇻🇺

Vanuatu

28/100

Pacific islands. Bungee jumping origin. Volcanic landscapes. Cyclone risk. Friendly culture.

3
🇫🇯

Fiji

27/100

Friendly and welcoming islands. Cyclone risk during wet season. Beautiful beaches.

4
🇹🇴

Tonga

25/100

Pacific kingdom. Whale watching excellent. Traditional culture. Remote and beautiful.

5
🇼🇸

Samoa

22/100

Pacific island. Traditional Polynesian culture. Beautiful beaches. Friendly locals.

6
🇦🇺

Australia

14/100

Low crime. Natural hazards (wildlife, sun, ocean) are the main risks. World-class quality of life.

7
🇳🇿

New Zealand

11/100

Stunning nature. Natural hazards from earthquakes and weather. Incredibly welcoming.

Data view (click a header to sort)

Rank Country Region Risk score Risk tier Notable
1 Papua New Guinea Oceania 62 High Risk 63/100
2 Vanuatu Oceania 20 Very Safe 28/100
3 Fiji Oceania 20 Very Safe 27/100
4 Tonga Oceania 19 Very Safe 25/100
5 Samoa Oceania 16 Very Safe 22/100
6 Australia Oceania 11 Very Safe 14/100
7 New Zealand Oceania 8 Very Safe 11/100
Travel insurance with named cyclone, earthquake, and tsunami cover (not just generic "natural disaster" cover, which often excludes the relevant peril) is the highest-leverage practical preparation for any of these destinations. The natural-disasters playbook in Warnely Insights covers what to do if the relevant event happens while you are travelling.