The Economist recently released its Safe Cities Index in which 50 cities around the world are ranked according to levels of safety. While many of these types of lists come out every year based on murder rates or levels of violent crime, this ridiculously thorough bit of research resulted in a list based on four different categories - digital security, health security, infrastructure safety, and personal safety. 

Tokyo topped the list proving a massive population can still live in relative safety. Singapore, Osaka, Stockholm and Amsterdam rounded out the top 5. Ho Chi Minh City was one of the 50 cities in the study, yet didn’t fare so well coming in at 48 out of 50 beating only Tehran and Jakarta. This is not to say the cities at the bottom of the list are the most perilous places in the world (Karachi, Baghdad, Mogadishu, etc weren’t included), but they still have some improving to do. 

Here’s how Saigon ranked among the four categories: in digital security, Saigon came in 42nd; in health security, 48th; in Infrastructure safety 50th; and in personal safety, a bit better, in 34th.

Cities with lower per capita income struggle with the above categories, so median income has a large role in these indices. Cities were broken down into income categories: High income ($50K/year and above), upper-middle income ($30K to $50k/year), lower-middle income ($10k to $30k/year), and lower income (less than $10K/year). Ho Chi Minh City was one of four cities in the lower income bracket and ranked number 3 below Delhi and Mumbai, but ahead of Jakarta. 

Interestingly, Amsterdam’s legalized prostitution and marijuana culture did little to keep them out of the top 5. It looks like hookers and weed don't necessarily equate to moral degeneration into chaotic lawlessness. 

You can access the full study here. 

[The Economist // Image via Hưng Tạ]