Kazakhstan has edged up one place to 41st out of 143 countries in the Order and Security category of the 2026 World Justice Project Rule of Law Index — the measure that tracks crime levels, civil conflict and violent dispute resolution. For anyone weighing a trip to Central Asia's largest country, that's a genuinely useful data point: it puts Kazakhstan ahead of most of its regional peers on everyday safety.
The index, which draws on household surveys plus input from legal practitioners and experts, covers 143 jurisdictions representing roughly 95% of the world's population. Kazakhstan's security score improved from 42nd in the previous edition, suggesting streets, cities and public spaces are holding steady or getting safer by these measures.
The wider picture is more mixed. Kazakhstan's overall rule-of-law ranking slipped from 66th to 67th, with its total score falling 1.4% to 0.53. It ranked 40th for civil justice — its strongest area — but lower on open government (80th), criminal justice (69th), absence of corruption (67th) and fundamental rights (98th). Denmark leads the global table, followed by Norway, Finland, Sweden and Luxembourg.
For travellers, though, the headline number is the one that counts most. Order and Security is the factor closest to how a destination actually feels on the ground: whether you can walk around Almaty's Arbat at night, take intercity trains, or explore the Charyn Canyon without worrying about crime or instability. A top-50 global placement there is reassuring, and it matches the general experience of visitors who find Kazakhstan's cities modern, orderly and easy to navigate.
Kazakhstan remains one of Central Asia's most accessible and traveller-friendly countries: visa-free entry for many nationalities, a fast-modernising capital in Astana, and dramatic landscapes from the Caspian steppe to the Tian Shan mountains. With the safety indicator ticking up, it's a good moment to put it on the map alongside more established adventure destinations.
Based on reporting by The Astana Times.
