Travel safety comparison · Europe
Iceland vs Norway: safety comparison
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Iceland vs Norway: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.
Iceland and Norway have very similar overall Warnely composite scores: 9 and 11. The choice between them is unlikely to be driven by the headline number alone. Drug law diverges sharply: Norway carries a tier-severe regime against Iceland's more permissive framework.
| 🇮🇸Iceland | 🇳🇴Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) | 9 / 100 | 11 / 100 |
| Risk tier | Very Safe | Very Safe |
| UK FCDO advisory | No active advisory | No active advisory |
| US State Department advisory | Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) | Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) |
| Global Peace Index rank | #1 | #32 |
| Drug law | Strict | Severe (long sentences) |
| Women's safety rating | Very Safe | Very Safe |
| LGBTQ+ legal status | marriage | marriage |
| Tap water | n/a | n/a |
| Currency | ISK | NOK |
Iceland vs Norway: common questions
Is Iceland or Norway safer to visit?
Iceland has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 9/100 vs 11/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.
Is Iceland or Norway safer for solo female travellers?
Iceland is rated Very Safe for women's safety; Norway is rated Very Safe. Read the full guides for city-level detail.
What do FCDO and US State Department say about Iceland and Norway?
Iceland: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State). Norway: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State).