First on the list of most danger countries for women travelers is South Africa, with reports of violence towards women especially when they are alone. There has been a history of violence against women and while this is changing gradually, there is a lot of work to be done. South Africa is among the most dangerous countries in Africa due to lacking in street safety for women, and also ranks high in violence against women by non-partners. There has been a lot of movement in this regard over the years by activists and law makers. In section 9 of the new South African Constitution, there is a section specifically written for the protection of women entitled “Equality”.   

Brazil follows South Africa as the second most dangerous country for women traveling alone. Women traveling alone in this country are open to the risk of being robbed, physically assaulted or raped. Like South Africa, Brazil scored low in terms of street safety and scored high when it comes to intentional homicide against women. There seems to be a “gap” in most cases throughout Brazil. Including pay, in leadership, workplace treatment and overall social norms. There are a multitude of organizations throughout Brazil advocating for improved treatment of women. A few are:

• National Council on Women 
• Union of Professional Women 
• Center for the Development of Brazilian Women 
• Feminine Movement for Amnesty 
• Carmen Lucia Paz

One of the few European countries on the list, Russia comes in at third place behind South Africa and Brazil. It's no secret that Russia is one of the most dangerous countries in Europe for solo female travelers.  There are high rates of intentional homicide against women and non-partner physical and sexual violence. There are also cases of legal discrimination against women in this country. Having been previously married to a Russian woman from Saint Petersburg Russia, I can tell you that the attitude towards women extend beyond just the men. It’s a cultural norm that pretty much everyone participates in. Not until it becomes socially unfavorable across the board will things ever truly change.   

Of all the countries on this list, Mexico is the most visited. This means, there is a high chance that women would want to travel to the beautiful central American country. As with other countries on this list, Mexico ranked low in street safety and high in intentional homicide and non-partner sexual violence. I’ve been to many places in Mexico with a female partner and at no time did either of us feel threatened or otherwise. In fact, I saw many women and young American girls freely roaming through cities without an issue. However, this doesn’t mean that the chance of something wrong happening isn’t real.  Exercise caution, be mindful of your surroundings and don't roam about alone late at night. We support women in Mexico, travelers or otherwise, because it's a place anyone should be able to enjoy, alone or with others.   

Iran has the poorest records when it comes to discrimination and inequality towards women. The only saving grace for the country is that it also has a low rate of intentional homicide against women. Like most of the countries on the list, there is a huge disparity between men and women, which results in a lack of respect and mistreatment. There is no other way things can pan out under such circumstances. 

This country has witnessed an upsurge in the number of tourists from the USA. However, it has also recorded a series of mysterious deaths in recent times and also ranked low in street safety. I have personally spent a good amount of time in the DR, each time with my female friend who was from the island. I was close friends with her family and quite honestly she was more worried about me than vice versa. Again, the issue with solo women travelers stems from both culture and the lack of protection available in general. It’s definitely not a place you’d want to be lost in as a female traveler.  

This is the second African country on the list. The North African country ranked fourth-worst in the global gender gap and sixth-worst in gender inequality. Like Brazil, Egypt has its fair share of female advocates, however, the change they seek will take more time. Ushering in new attitudes is a process and unfortunately this one cannot be rushed.