But the world has been turned upside down over the years by the global epidemic and the idea of what really makes a particular “safe” place change so much.
This could help explain the earthquake at the top of the Economist Intelligence Unit's Safe Cities Index (SCI,) which sets out 60 global areas for digital security, health security, infrastructure, personal safety, and environmental safety, a new category this year.
While Asian cities such as Tokyo, Singapore and Osaka continue to occupy the top spot every year, it is the European region that holds the first place in 2021.
Copenhagen was named the safest city in the world for the first time, earning 82.4 out of 100 points in the annual report.
The Danish capital dropped from eighth place jointly in 2019 to the top of the list, largely due to the introduction of the environmental safety component, the city received excellent points, as well as personal safety.