Havelock Island Ranks Among World’s 10 Quietest Islands in 2026

India's Swaraj Dweep (Havelock Island) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has been ranked 9th among the world's quietest islands in the 2026 Unspoilt Index released by BookRetreats.com. The index analysed 100 islands using satellite and mapping data, assessing factors such as naturalness, road density, air traffic, population pressure, night-sky darkness and coastal characteristics.

New Zealand's Stewart Island (Rakiura) topped the ranking with 94.6/100, followed by Anafi in Greece and Ilha Grande in Brazil. Havelock scored 87.9/100, making it one of four Asian islands in the global top 10.

Why Did Havelock Island Make the Top 10?

Havelock's high ranking is linked to its relatively low human disturbance and extensive natural landscape. The Unspoilt Index gave it 91/100 for naturalness, highlighting its forests, limited road infrastructure and lack of an airport.

Officially known as Swaraj Dweep, the island is part of the Andaman group. According to the South Andaman district administration, it covers approximately 113 sq km and lies about 39 km northeast of Sri Vijaya Puram. It is known for white-sand beaches, tropical forests and coral reefs.

The island was formerly called Havelock Island and was officially renamed Swaraj Dweep on December 30, 2018.

Among its major attractions is Radhanagar Beach, while Elephant Beach is associated with snorkelling and other marine activities. Swaraj Dweep is also an important Indian destination for scuba diving, coral-reef tourism and mangrove kayaking.

What is the Unspoilt Index?

The Unspoilt Index is a private travel ranking developed by BookRetreats.com, not a ranking issued by the UN, UNESCO or the Government of India. This distinction is important for both accuracy and UPSC preparation.

Its first edition assessed 100 islands using six broad indicators:

• naturalness

• population density

• airport/air-traffic noise

• main-road density

• night-sky brightness

• coastal accessibility

The methodology is intended to identify destinations where natural landscapes and relatively low levels of human disturbance can provide quieter travel experiences.

World's 10 Quietest Islands in 2026

Rank	Island	Country	Score
1	Stewart Island	New Zealand	94.6
2	Anafi	Greece	93.8
3	Ilha Grande	Brazil	93.4
4	Lord Howe Island	Australia	92.8
5	St Martin's, Isles of Scilly	UK	90.7
6	Tioman Island	Malaysia	89.0
7	Koh Chang	Thailand	88.4
8	Koh Rong	Cambodia	88.1
9	Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep)	India	87.9
10	Santa Catalina Island	USA	84.0

Source: BookRetreats.com's 2026 Unspoilt Index. 

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is Havelock Island called now?

Answer. Havelock Island is officially known as Swaraj Dweep. It is part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and was renamed Swaraj Dweep in 2018.

Q. What is Havelock Island's rank among the world's quietest islands in 2026?

Answer. Havelock Island, officially Swaraj Dweep, ranked 9th in BookRetreats.com's 2026 Unspoilt Index, with a score of 87.9 out of 100.

Q. Which is the world's quietest island in 2026 according to the Unspoilt Index?

Answer. Stewart Island in New Zealand ranked first in the 2026 Unspoilt Index with a score of 94.6 out of 100.

Q. What is the Unspoilt Index?

Answer. The Unspoilt Index is a private travel ranking developed by BookRetreats.com. It evaluates islands using factors such as naturalness, population density, airport noise, main-road density, night-sky brightness and coastal accessibility.

Q. Where is Swaraj Dweep located?

Answer. Swaraj Dweep is part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India. It lies northeast of Sri Vijaya Puram and is known for tropical forests, coral reefs and beaches including Radhanagar Beach.