Snapping a selfie can be one of the most convenient ways to capture an experience on a trip, but some places are more dangerous for photo ops than others.
The most treacherous country in the world for taking selfies is India, according to a new study from The Barber Law Firm, as reported in the New York Post. The country was home to 42.1 percent of all selfie-related incidents around the world with the overwhelming majority (214 of the total reported 271 selfie incidents) resulting in death.
“Our research highlights a troubling trend where the pursuit of social media validation is literally costing lives. The perfect photo simply isn’t worth the danger,” Kris Barber, the founder and principal attorney at The Barber Law Firm, told the paper. “What’s particularly concerning is that most of these tragedies could have been avoided by taking a few steps back or finding a safer vantage point.”
The second most dangerous country for selfies was the United States, which reported 45 selfie-related incidents, including 37 deaths and eight injuries. That was followed by Russia, which took the third spot on the list with 19 total selfie-related incidents, 18 of which resulted in death.
To compile its list of the most dangerous countries to take a selfie in, the law firm looked at selfie-related incidents that led to injury or death between March 2014 and May 2025. The leading cause of selfie-related fatalities was falling, according to the paper. That comprised 46% of all incidents.
Dangerous selfies are also not new. A 2023 Journal of Medical Internet Research study found selfie-related incidents were a public health problem. In that study, “falls from cliff edges were the most common cause of selfie-related deaths in Australia and the United States in aquatic locations, and that young women and girls were disproportionately affected.”
To stay safe when snapping a selfie, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings and avoid getting too close to the edge of any high precipice. It’s also important to be aware of the risks to those around you.
“There are always safer alternatives to capture beautiful moments without putting yourself at risk,” Barber told the Post. “No amount of likes or shares can justify endangering your life.”
And for travelers who prefer to capture memories in a less conventional way, they should consider investing in a travel sketchbook or a journal, or head out on a tech-free vacation.
