Safest Countries to Drive in Europe
Europe has the safest roads of any continent, but the gap inside it is wide: the best countries record about 2 road deaths per 100,000 people, the worst about seven times that. This table ranks all 44 European countries from safest to most dangerous using WHO-estimated death rates.
Quick answer: Iceland has the lowest road death rate in Europe at 2 per 100,000 people (WHO estimate), followed by Norway (2.1), Sweden (2.2), Monaco (2.5), Switzerland (2.6). The global average is about 15.
| # | Country | Rate /100k | Est. deaths / year | Est. 2026 so far | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iceland | 2 | 8 | 6 | |
| 2 | Norway | 2.1 | 116 | 90 | |
| 3 | Sweden | 2.2 | 233 | 181 | |
| 4 | Monaco | 2.5 | 1 | 0 | |
| 5 | Switzerland | 2.6 | 229 | 178 | |
| 6 | Liechtenstein | 2.7 | 1 | 0 | |
| 7 | Ireland | 2.9 | 154 | 119 | |
| 8 | United Kingdom | 2.9 | 1,963 | 1,528 | |
| 9 | San Marino | 3 | 1 | 0 | |
| 10 | Denmark | 3.1 | 183 | 142 | |
| 11 | Germany | 3.7 | 3,127 | 2,435 | |
| 12 | Spain | 3.7 | 1,758 | 1,369 | |
| 13 | Netherlands | 3.8 | 676 | 526 | |
| 14 | Finland | 3.9 | 218 | 169 | |
| 15 | Malta | 4.1 | 22 | 17 | |
| 16 | Estonia | 4.4 | 62 | 48 | |
| 17 | Austria | 4.6 | 419 | 326 | |
| 18 | Luxembourg | 4.7 | 31 | 24 | |
| 19 | Belgium | 4.8 | 562 | 437 | |
| 20 | Slovenia | 4.9 | 103 | 80 | |
| 21 | France | 5 | 3,410 | 2,655 | |
| 22 | Cyprus | 5.1 | 66 | 51 | |
| 23 | Italy | 5.2 | 3,063 | 2,385 | |
| 24 | Andorra | 5.5 | 4 | 3 | |
| 25 | Czech Republic | 5.6 | 605 | 471 | |
| 26 | Slovakia | 5.7 | 308 | 239 | |
| 27 | North Macedonia | 6.4 | 134 | 104 | |
| 28 | Lithuania | 6.5 | 182 | 141 | |
| 29 | Portugal | 6.8 | 694 | 540 | |
| 30 | Hungary | 6.9 | 662 | 515 | |
| 31 | Serbia | 7.2 | 482 | 375 | |
| 32 | Latvia | 7.4 | 141 | 109 | |
| 33 | Poland | 7.4 | 2,723 | 2,120 | |
| 34 | Croatia | 7.7 | 300 | 233 | |
| 35 | Belarus | 7.8 | 718 | 559 | |
| 36 | Greece | 8.2 | 853 | 664 | |
| 37 | Romania | 8.6 | 1,643 | 1,279 | |
| 38 | Bulgaria | 8.9 | 570 | 443 | |
| 39 | Moldova | 9.7 | 243 | 189 | |
| 40 | Montenegro | 10.6 | 66 | 51 | |
| 41 | Russia | 10.9 | 15,740 | 12,258 | |
| 42 | Albania | 11.7 | 328 | 255 | |
| 43 | Ukraine | 13 | 4,771 | 3,715 | |
| 44 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 14.6 | 467 | 363 |
Speed limits, drink-drive limits and driving side for every country in this table: driving in Europe, rules by country. UK drivers: the UK drink-drive limit explained.
Most Dangerous Countries to Drive In
Ranked by road traffic deaths per 100,000 people: the world's most dangerous countries for drivers in 2026, with full data for 19…
Safest Countries to Drive In
Ranked by lowest road deaths per 100,000 people: the world's safest countries for drivers in 2026 — and the safe-system policies …
Fastest-Improving Road Safety
Which countries have cut road deaths the most since 2000? Ranked by two decades of World Bank/WHO data — the biggest road-safety …
Where Road Deaths Are Rising
The countries where road death rates have increased since 2000, ranked by two decades of World Bank/WHO data — and why motorizati…
Most Dangerous Countries to Drive in Europe
The most dangerous European countries for drivers in 2026, ranked by road deaths per 100,000 people, with the rules visitors need…
Road Deaths in Europe by Country
Road traffic deaths for all 44 European countries in 2026: deaths per 100,000 people, estimated deaths per year and the running t…
Road Deaths by Country
Complete table of estimated road traffic deaths for all 195 countries in 2026: total deaths per year, deaths per 100,000 people, …
FAQ
What is the safest country to drive in Europe?
What is the most dangerous country to drive in Europe?
How many people die on European roads each year?
Which European countries drive on the left?
All figures are statistical estimates from WHO published rates — see the full methodology. Citing this table? Link back to this page as the source.