Every day, millions of workers step onto farms, construction sites, factory floors, and transportation routes to keep the global economy moving. But depending on where they work and what industry they're in, the risk of never returning home can vary dramatically.
Using information from the International Labour Organization's ILOSTAT database, TRADESAFE examined fatal occupational injury rates across four high-risk industries (agriculture, construction, transportation, and manufacturing) in 38 countries. This report reveals stark differences in workplace safety outcomes around the world and highlights where industrial workers face the greatest risks.
Key Takeaways
- Turkey ranks as the No. 1 most dangerous across all 38 countries studied, with an average fatality rate of 23.54 per 100,000 workers across four industrial sectors.
- Uzbekistan has the lowest overall average fatality rate across industrial sectors at 0.56 per 100,000, followed by the Netherlands at 1.14.
- The United States ranks sixth among the most dangerous countries for industrial workers in the dataset, yet posted the largest improvement over the study period.
- Among the industrial sectors analyzed, agriculture is the deadliest globally, averaging 10.2 fatal injuries per 100,000 workers.
- Moldova has the single highest sector rate in the entire dataset at 54 fatal injuries per 100,000 workers in construction.
- The United States (-52%), Panama (-40%), Romania (-35%), Sri Lanka (-35%), and the Netherlands (-30%) posted the largest declines in average fatality rates across industrial sectors.
- Portugal (+59%), Turkey (+39%), and Finland (+35%) saw the steepest rises in average fatality rates across industrial sectors.
The Most and Least Dangerous Countries for Industrial Workers
Safety conditions for workers can vary widely depending on national regulations, enforcement practices, and industry standards. Comparing fatality rates across countries helps reveal where industrial work carries the highest risks and where stronger safety systems appear to be making a difference.
Turkey ranked as the most dangerous country among the 38 analyzed, with an average fatality rate of 23.54 deaths per 100,000 workers across agriculture, construction, transportation, and manufacturing. This is far above the levels in most other countries in the dataset, signaling significant safety challenges across multiple industrial sectors.
The remaining top 5 most dangerous countries were Thailand, Moldova, Canada, and Bulgaria. The United States ranked sixth most dangerous overall, with an average fatality rate of 11.32 per 100,000 workers across the industries studied.
Uzbekistan had the lowest overall fatality rate at 0.56 per 100,000 workers, followed by the Netherlands (1.14) and Germany (2.18). These figures indicate dramatically lower risk levels for industrial workers than in many other countries included in the analysis.
The Deadliest Industry for Industrial Workers
Industrial workplaces vary greatly in the types of hazards employees face. Looking at fatality rates across sectors highlights which industries present the greatest risks and where safety improvements may have the most impact.
Across all countries analyzed, agriculture recorded the highest global fatality rate, averaging 10.2 fatal injuries per 100,000 workers. The sector includes farming, forestry, and fishing — jobs that often involve heavy machinery, long hours, and unpredictable environmental conditions.
Construction also proved especially hazardous in several countries, with a fatality rate of 9.7 per 100,000 workers. Moldova had the highest single-sector fatality rate in the entire study, reaching 54 deaths per 100,000 workers in construction.
Here are the top 10 countries by fatality rate for each sector. All rates are fatal injuries per 100,000 workers.
Agriculture
- Canada — 43.36
- Thailand — 28.86
- Turkey — 22.62
- United States — 20.30
- Romania — 19.98
- Norway — 19.68
- Austria — 19.22
- Switzerland — 17.36
- Ireland — 15.86
- Finland — 12.84
Construction
- Moldova — 54.00
- Turkey — 27.71
- Bulgaria — 19.27
- Mongolia — 18.20
- Thailand — 17.33
- Azerbaijan — 16.00
- Croatia — 14.85
- Argentina — 13.40
- Sri Lanka — 13.04
- Russia — 12.89
Transportation
- Turkey — 32.33
- Mongolia — 16.00
- Thailand — 15.97
- Bulgaria — 14.56
- United States — 12.90
- Argentina — 10.48
- France — 8.72
- Norway — 8.25
- Colombia — 7.47
- Portugal — 7.36
Manufacturing
- Turkey — 11.51
- Mongolia — 6.40
- Azerbaijan — 6.00
- Colombia — 4.50
- France — 4.08
- Russia — 3.71
- Portugal — 3.48
- Canada — 3.40
- Argentina — 3.28
- Thailand — 3.10
Progress and Decline in Workplace Safety
Changes in fatality rates over time can reveal whether safety improvements are working, or whether workplace risks are increasing. Tracking trends across multiple years provides a clearer picture of which countries are moving in the right direction.
Across the study period, 24 of the 35 countries analyzed improved their workplace fatality rates, while 11 experienced worse outcomes. This suggests that many countries have made progress in reducing risks across major industrial sectors.
The largest improvements were recorded in the United States (-52%), followed by Panama (-40%), Romania (-35%), Sri Lanka (-35%), and the Netherlands (-30%). These declines represent substantial reductions in fatal occupational injuries over time.
Other countries saw sharp increases in workplace fatalities. Portugal recorded the largest rise at +59%, followed by Turkey (+39%) and Finland (+35%), highlighting areas where safety conditions have worsened from 2018 to 2024.
What the Global Data Tells Us About Workplace Safety
Workplace safety conditions differ dramatically around the world, even for workers performing similar jobs. This analysis found that fatality risks vary not only by industry but also by country, with some nations showing far stronger safety outcomes than others.
Agriculture was the deadliest sector globally, while construction recorded the single highest sector fatality rate in the dataset. Although many countries have made meaningful progress in reducing workplace fatalities, others are moving in the opposite direction. For safety professionals and industry leaders, these findings reinforce an important truth: improving workplace safety requires constant attention, investment, and accountability.
Methodology
This study analyzes fatal occupational injury rates across four industrial sectors — agriculture, construction, transportation, and manufacturing — using data from the International Labour Organization's ILOSTAT database. All figures represent fatal occupational injuries per 100,000 workers and were sourced from nationally reported statistics submitted to the ILO.
Country Selection
The analysis covers 38 countries selected based on data availability and completeness within the 2018–2024 window. The most recent available year per country was used as the snapshot for assets 1 and 2.
Sectors
Four industrial sectors were selected based on occupational fatality risk and ILO data availability: agriculture (including forestry and fishing), construction, transportation and storage, and manufacturing.
Section 1 — Country Rankings
Each country's overall fatality rate is an unweighted average of its four sector rates in the most recent qualifying year.
Section 2 — Sector Comparison
Global sector averages represent the mean fatality rate across all 38 countries for each sector.
Section 3 — Trend Analysis
The trend analysis covers 35 countries. Three countries were excluded due to data comparability issues. Percentage change is calculated by comparing a 2-year-averaged baseline with a 2-year-averaged endpoint to reduce single-year statistical noise.
About TRADESAFE
TRADESAFE provides industry-leading safety solutions - including Lockout Tagout devices, safety showers, eye wash stations, spill containment solutions, and workplace safety signs - precision-engineered for durability, compliance, and seamless integration into industrial environments. Designed to exceed OSHA, ANSI, and EPA standards, our solutions are relied upon by the nation’s top companies, municipalities, and government agencies.
Fair Use Statement
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