Travel safety comparison · Asia
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka: safety comparison
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Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.
Sri Lanka sits a little lower on the Warnely composite score than Bangladesh (38 against 49), but the gap is small enough that the practical difference comes down to category-by-category detail rather than the headline. The biggest single category gap is in crime, where Sri Lanka scores 2/5 against Bangladesh's 3/5. Drug law diverges sharply: Bangladesh carries a tier-death regime against Sri Lanka's more permissive framework.
| 🇧🇩Bangladesh | 🇱🇰Sri Lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) | 49 / 100 | 38 / 100 |
| Risk tier | Exercise Increased Caution | Exercise Increased Caution |
| UK FCDO advisory | No active advisory | No active advisory |
| US State Department advisory | Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) | Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) |
| Global Peace Index rank | #123 | #97 |
| Drug law | Death penalty possible | Severe (long sentences) |
| Women's safety rating | Generally Safe | Generally Safe |
| LGBTQ+ legal status | illegal | illegal |
| Tap water | n/a | n/a |
| Currency | BDT | LKR |
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka: common questions
Is Bangladesh or Sri Lanka safer to visit?
Sri Lanka has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 38/100 vs 49/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.
Is Bangladesh or Sri Lanka safer for solo female travellers?
Bangladesh is rated Generally Safe for women's safety; Sri Lanka is rated Generally Safe. Read the full guides for city-level detail.
What do FCDO and US State Department say about Bangladesh and Sri Lanka?
Bangladesh: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State). Sri Lanka: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State).