Bhutan named world's quietest country, Estonia leads Europe

For those seeking an escape from the constant hum of modern life, a new study has pinpointed the world's quietest countries. Bhutan has been crowned the most tranquil nation globally, with Estonia emerging as the quietest in Europe, according to the Noise-Free Nations index compiled by Go2Africa.

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When was the last time you were somewhere truly quiet? The sound of cars, neighbors' conversations, traffic noise, and other everyday sounds have become so common that we often only notice true silence when we escape the city.

The index assessed factors contributing to noise levels and isolation, including population and tourist density, the proportion of rural areas, the extent of protected land, and the density of roads, airports, and railways. Each country received a score out of 100, with higher scores indicating greater silence.

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According to the Noise-Free Nations index, compiled by the tourism company Go2Africa, the quietest country in the world is Bhutan, while among European countries, Estonia ranked best.

Bhutan secured the top spot with a score of 89.44. Its mountainous terrain, vast rural areas, and a government policy limiting tourist numbers through a sustainable development fee contribute to its serene environment. The study highlighted Africa's prevalence in the top rankings, with Namibia and Botswana securing the second and third positions, respectively. Zambia and Gabon also featured in the top five, recognized for their extensive protected lands and pristine rainforests.

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Bhutan took first place with a score of 89.44. The country is known for its vast forested mountains, terraced valleys, and high plateaus, and the large proportion of rural space contributed to its ranking.

European nations lagged behind, with Estonia at 34th, Finland at 39th, and Sweden at 40th. Researchers attributed this to higher population density, significant tourism, and developed infrastructure across the continent. At the other end of the spectrum, Singapore was identified as the noisiest country, scoring just 6.78, largely due to its limited rural areas and high tourist density. The Maldives also ranked surprisingly high on the list of noisy destinations.

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Africa, in particular, dominated the top of the list – more than half of the top 25 countries are located on that continent.