When was the last time you found yourself in a truly quiet place? We are so accustomed to the constant hum of passing cars and loud conversations from neighbors (or the creaking of furniture if they live one floor above) that we immediately notice when we are somewhere where there is real silence. It’s… pleasant. Even relaxing. Silence is worth seeking more often. Fortunately, a new index called Noise-Free Nations has emerged, showcasing the quietest countries in the world where one can truly disconnect from everything. The index was compiled by Go2Africa (source in English). It took into account data on population density and the number of tourists, the share of rural areas and protected lands, as well as the density of vehicles, airports, and railway lines. Countries received a score on a hundred-point scale for each of these indicators, and then the results were combined into an overall silence index. ## ## The Quietest Countries in the World Bhutan topped the ranking due to its large share of rural areas: over 39,000 square kilometers are covered by forested mountains, terraced valleys, and high-altitude regions. Additionally, the Land of the Thunder Dragon limits the number of tourists by charging a sustainable development fee. This makes it one of the most expensive travel destinations in the world. Africa dominates the list: more than half of the countries in the top 25 are on this continent, including second to fifth places. Namibia is the second quietest: it has only 3.83 people per square kilometer. The country is home to the Namib — the oldest desert in the world, and there are only 0.67 tourists per square kilometer. Botswana took third place — according to the tour operator, largely thanks to the tourism strategy of "low volume, high value." Zambia and Gabon round out the top five: the former has one of the highest shares of protected areas in the world, while the latter is known for its untouched rainforests. No European country managed to break into the top 25: the highest-ranked was Estonia — in 34th place, followed by Finland in 39th and Sweden in 40th. The reason is the high population density on the continent, significant tourist influx, and extensive infrastructure networks. Top 10 Quietest Countries in the World Bhutan — 89.44 points on the silence index Namibia — 86.69 points on the silence index Botswana — 80.86 points on the silence index Zambia — 80.64 points on the silence index Gabon — 80.61 points on the silence index Venezuela — 80.20 points on the silence index Chad — 79.82 points on the silence index Central African Republic — 78.18 points on the silence index Mongolia — 75.53 points on the silence index Bolivia — 75.40 points on the silence index ## ## And the Loudest At the other end of the scale, the list of the loudest countries in the world is led by Asian destinations. Singapore took first place: rural areas occupy only 30% of the island state's territory, and there are 23,609 tourists per square kilometer. Somewhat unexpectedly, the Maldives came in second. Although it is easy to find silence and tranquility on the resort islands, the capital Male is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Barbados took the third spot: as noted by Go2Africa, there are two airports for a small area, and noise is also generated by cruise ships. The Loudest Countries in the World Singapore — 6.78 points on the silence index Maldives — 8.48 points on the silence index Barbados — 10.12 points on the silence index Qatar — 15.45 points on the silence index Lebanon — 18.13 points on the silence index
