Travel safety comparison · Latin America & the Caribbean
Belize vs Guatemala: safety comparison
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Belize vs Guatemala: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.
Belize sits a little lower on the Warnely composite score than Guatemala (37 against 48), 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 Belize scores 2/5 against Guatemala's 3/5. Drug law diverges sharply: Guatemala carries a tier-severe regime against Belize's more permissive framework.
| 🇧🇿Belize | 🇬🇹Guatemala | |
|---|---|---|
| Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) | 37 / 100 | 48 / 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 | n/a | #108 |
| Drug law | decrim | Severe (long sentences) |
| Women's safety rating | Exercise Caution | Exercise Caution |
| LGBTQ+ legal status | legal | legal |
| Tap water | n/a | n/a |
| Currency | BZD | GTQ |
Belize vs Guatemala: common questions
Is Belize or Guatemala safer to visit?
Belize has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 37/100 vs 48/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.
Is Belize or Guatemala safer for solo female travellers?
Belize is rated Exercise Caution for women's safety; Guatemala is rated Exercise Caution. Read the full guides for city-level detail.
What do FCDO and US State Department say about Belize and Guatemala?
Belize: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State). Guatemala: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State).