🛡️ Trust & Safety — Global Study

Global Safety Perceptions 2026: How 253,600 People Across 38 Countries Define Feeling Safe

What makes you feel truly safe in 2026?

What shapes the perception of safety in today’s world? Is it the security of our neighbourhoods, the people we trust, or the confidence that our digital lives are protected? The latest Global Safety Perceptions 2026 survey explores how global safety perceptions are changing and where your own experience fits in.

💬 Total Respondents 253,600

🌍 Countries Covered 38

🗓️ 2026

⏱ 6 Min Read

the standout stat

0 %

Feel safe in their neighbourhood

Worry about their safety at least sometimes

0 %

Have experienced an online scam or breach

0 %

Trust family the most

0 %

Believe the world is becoming riskier

Quick Read – Key Findings

01 // Safe, Yet Alert

70%

People feel safe but remain cautious

Most people feel safe in their neighborhood, yet remain cautious outside – a core pattern in today’s global perception.

02 // Growing Risk

52.4%

The world feels increasingly uncertain

More than half believe the world is growing riskier – key trend shaping safety perceptions in 2026.

03 // Digital Safety

39.2%

Digital safety is now a major concern

Nearly 4 in 10 have faced online scams, making digital safety and online safety perceptions central to how people feel secure.

04 // Trusted Family

51%

Trust begins at home

Family remains the most trusted source of safety, a consistent theme in global safety perceptions.

05 // Confidence Builders

49.1%

People value digital and community protection

Verified platforms, communities and cameras help people feel safer – key drivers of personal safety trends in 2026.

06 // Your Turn

YOU

What’s your World Safety Rating?

Add your score to the global picture — 2 minutes, anonymous.

How safe does your neighbourhood feel?

Take the survey and compare your score with people around the world.

What We Asked

Safety Means More Than Feeling Safe

In today’s connected world, safety is no longer just about where we live. It’s about how secure we feel walking outside, protecting our digital lives, trusting the people around us, and preparing for an uncertain future.

To understand these shifts, Panel Station surveyed 253,600 people across 38 countries. The findings examine trends in personal safety, neighbourhood safety, digital safety, online safety perceptions, and overall consumer trust in 2026.

The findings reveal a clear contradiction: while many people feel safe close to home, rising concerns about digital threats and future risks continue to shape global safety perceptions.

What It Tells Us

Three Things About Safety Today

Safety Starts Close to Home

Neighbourhood safety continues to provide reassurance, even as the world feels increasingly uncertain. This remains one of the strongest insights in global safety perceptions.

Digital Safety Is Personal Safety

Cybersecurity awareness, identity protection, and online safety perceptions have become essential parts of feeling safe and a defining feature of modern global safety perceptions.

Trust Is Human

When uncertainty grows, people rely more on family. This human connection consistently ranks higher than institutions or technology in consumer trust and safety.

How would you rate your overall safety?

Find out how your score compares across 38 countries.

THE TRUST FACTOR

Who People Count On

When safety matters most, people trust relationships over institutions. 51% place their greatest trust in family, making loved ones the world’s strongest safety net – a consistent finding in global safety perceptions.

THE RISK RADAR

Threats Shaping Daily Decisions

Online scams top the list

65% identify online scams as their biggest personal safety concern.

Crime is a close second

48% say crime is the threat they worry about most.

Digital risks are now personal

39.2% have experienced an online scam or security breach.

Caution is becoming routine

42% feel anxious about their personal safety at least sometimes when they’re out.

Confidence coexists with concern

While 70% feel safe in their neighbourhoods, everyday risks continue to influence their behaviour.

Safety decisions are evolving

People are navigating both physical and digital threats, making security a constant part of daily life.

Know Your Risk Radar

Which threat shapes your daily decisions the most?
Take the survey to compare your perspective with people across 38 countries and discover your personal Safety Profile.

THE CONFIDENCE BUILDERS

What Makes People Feel Safe

Trust matters online too

49.1% say verified digital platforms make them feel more secure.

Active communities lead the way

44.4% say strong, connected neighbourhoods contribute most to their sense of safety.

Visible protection reassures people

42.3% cite security cameras as an important contributor to everyday safety.

Safety tools provide reassurance

41.9% rely on safety apps to feel more secure. Fast emergency response inspires confidence. 40.7% value quick access to help when it matters most.

Well-lit spaces feel safer

37.7% say better street lighting improves their sense of security.

THE NEW NORMAL

How Safety Is Being Redefined

Safety today is no longer measured only by secure neighbourhoods or low crime rates. It is shaped by digital resilience, trusted relationships, responsive systems, and confidence in the future.

As physical and digital worlds become more connected, feeling safe depends on the ability to navigate risks across both. The data shows a clear shift in global safety perceptions. While 70% of people feel safe in their neighbourhoods, 42% still feel anxious when stepping out, and 39% have already experienced an online scam.

People still value the basics like well-lit streets, visible security, and active communities. But they now place equal importance on verified online platforms, safety apps, and faster emergency response systems. Trust in family remains the strongest foundation, while trust in government systems stays moderate.

THE FORECAST

Looking Beyond Today

More than 52% of people believe the world is becoming riskier each year, while only 15% believe it is becoming safer. A further 26% feel little has changed, and 7% remain unsure.

This global safety perception of rising risk is not driven by a single threat. It reflects the combined pressure of physical crime, online scams, digital vulnerability, and uncertainty about the future. Even as many feel reasonably safe in their own neighbourhoods, the broader environment feels less predictable – a defining trend in global safety perceptions.

The findings suggest that future expectations are increasingly shaped by caution rather than confidence. In this context, stronger communities, trusted institutions, and greater digital resilience become essential. Safety is no longer only about protection today. It is about building the confidence to face whatever comes next.

The Hidden One

This report reveals how 253,600 people across 38 countries think about safety but one perspective is still missing: yours.

Every response so far has helped shape a clearer picture of global safety perception today. From online scams and neighbourhood trust to the systems people rely on when things go wrong, these insights reflect real experiences from around the world.

Now it’s your turn. Share how safe you feel, what concerns you most, and what would make daily life feel more secure. Your perspective helps build a more complete understanding of global safety perception.

What’s Your Safety Profile?

Discover your Safety Profile, compare your results with people around the world, and see where you fit in the global picture.

FAQ's

1. What makes people feel safe in their daily lives?

People generally feel safer when they have supportive communities, well-lit public spaces, reliable emergency services, trusted institutions, and secure digital environments. Feeling safe is often influenced by both physical surroundings and social connections.

2. Why are online scams becoming a major safety concern?

As more people rely on digital services for banking, shopping, and communication, cyber threats such as phishing, identity theft, and financial fraud have become increasingly common. Staying informed and practising good cyber hygiene can significantly reduce these risks.

3. How can I improve my personal safety every day?

Stay aware of your surroundings, avoid isolated areas when possible, share your travel plans with trusted people when necessary, keep emergency contacts accessible, and follow local safety guidelines.

4. How can I stay safe online?

Use strong, unique passwords, enable multi-factor authentication, avoid clicking suspicious links, verify websites before sharing personal information, keep your devices updated, and report suspicious activity promptly.

5. How do safety concerns influence everyday behaviour?

Safety concerns often affect how people travel, shop, use public spaces, interact online, and choose where to live or work. Many people adapt their routines based on both physical and digital risks – key insight from global safety perceptions.

6. How can communities create a safer environment?

Communities become safer when neighbours support one another, report suspicious activity, participate in local initiatives, and advocate for improvements such as better lighting, emergency response services, and safer public spaces.

7. What role does technology play in improving safety?

Technology can enhance safety through verified online platforms, emergency alert systems, GPS sharing, security cameras, and mobile safety applications. When used responsibly, these tools complement traditional safety measures.

8. Why is understanding public perceptions of safety important?

Understanding how people perceive safety helps governments, businesses, and communities make informed decisions, improve public services, strengthen digital security, and create environments where people feel more confident and protected.