Travel safety comparison · Europe

Bulgaria vs North Macedonia: safety comparison

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Bulgaria vs North Macedonia: side-by-side safety comparison. Risk scores, FCDO + US State advisories, drug law, women's safety, LGBTQ+ status.

· How Warnely scores risk →
Bulgaria and North Macedonia have very similar overall Warnely composite scores: 20 and 21. The choice between them is unlikely to be driven by the headline number alone. The biggest single category gap is in crime, where North Macedonia scores 1/5 against Bulgaria's 2/5. The US State Department currently carries a Level 1 advisory on Bulgaria and a Level 1 on North Macedonia. Drug law diverges sharply: Bulgaria carries a tier-severe regime against North Macedonia's more permissive framework.
🇧🇬Bulgaria 🇲🇰North Macedonia
Warnely composite (0–100, lower is safer) 20 / 100 21 / 100
Risk tier Very Safe Exercise Normal 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 #29 #51
Drug law Severe (long sentences) Strict
Women's safety rating Generally Safe Generally Safe
LGBTQ+ legal status hostile hostile
Tap water n/a n/a
Currency BGN MKD
Full guide

Is Bulgaria safe to visit in 2026?
Full guide

Is North Macedonia safe to visit in 2026?

Bulgaria vs North Macedonia: common questions

Is Bulgaria or North Macedonia safer to visit?

Bulgaria has the lower Warnely composite risk score: 20/100 vs 21/100 (lower is safer). Both scores factor in crime, terrorism, natural disasters, health, civil unrest, and infrastructure.

Is Bulgaria or North Macedonia safer for solo female travellers?

Bulgaria is rated Generally Safe for women's safety; North Macedonia is rated Generally Safe. Read the full guides for city-level detail.

What do FCDO and US State Department say about Bulgaria and North Macedonia?

Bulgaria: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State). North Macedonia: No active advisory (FCDO), Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions) (US State).

More comparisons

Greece vs North Macedonia · Bulgaria vs Greece · Bulgaria vs Romania · Bulgaria vs Kosovo · Bulgaria vs Serbia · North Macedonia vs Serbia · Bulgaria vs Cyprus · Cyprus vs North Macedonia

Planning the trip? Check Bulgaria visa requirements and North Macedonia visa requirements.

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